Dark twisted fantasy turned to reality

 

Melissa's baby would be born in May, earlier than expected. It was a girl. 

Riley knew it upset Sterling the most, yet she was in total shock about it herself. There was still paperwork to settle everything with the adoption. Sometimes, it felt endless. But it was going to happen, Tessa kept telling her this every day, and they were hand in hand getting ready for the baby's arrival.

Sure, she loved calling Em to rant about the situation. She was certain by now Em and Yuki wouldn't want to see them, but they always found time to be supportive, even if it was just dinner with friends.

It was great to spend time with Brandon and Declan from time to time. Still, she felt they needed to be supportive of Tess' younger brother who was the father of Melissa's baby.

"Are you sure you can maintain the distance in all of this?" Brandon asked after one of their dinners with Em and Yuki.

"What do you mean?"

"I dunno, this feels so involved, like extended family and you know, Melissa?" He shrugged. Brandon was like a brother Riley never had. It was good to talk to him, but she wasn't certain she wanted to talk about her ex Melissa now. Riley was married to Tessa and it was a blessing. She knew Melissa was history. Her history, but it was a new chapter, adopting Melissa's baby with Sterling.

"Well, we don't talk. I just hear what's going on through Tess and Sterling," Riley hugged herself about the matter. Yes, it was complicated, but she felt it could happen. 

"See, you two need to talk," he said about Melissa.

"I can't," Riley shook her head, no. 

"OK," Brandon said he understood. He remembered it was a bad breakup. Riley couldn't help but swell with tears.

"I..I was the one who always wanted a baby, and then this.." It still choked her up to talk about how everything unraveled with Melissa and then this happened.

Brandon told her if this didn't work out, then he would help them in any way he could to start a family.

Riley smiled, but she didn't want to need him.