#rindy

“You have Rindy,” Therese smirked, tapping the eraser of her pencil lightly against the girl’s hand as she giggled. “She’s younger than you and you’re in love with her. And as her favorite aunt, you’d do anything for her, right? So might as well quit for her.”

“Because you’re in love with me,” Rindy snickered. “Thanks, T.”

“Of course,” Therese grinned, squeezing her shoulder. “Now if the aunt of the year and the love of her life could turn their focus to me so we could actually get to planning for Carol’s birthday, that would be swell.”

“And way out of character for this trio,” Abby mumbled, stubbing out the cigarette against an empty dish she’d stolen out of the cupboard much to Therese’s chagrin. Though she couldn’t blame her. Carol used to do the same.

“Okay,” Rindy nodded, swinging her legs back and forth under the table as she bounced in her chair with excitement. “What did mom do for your birthday, T?”

“Oh, I’ll tell you kid,” Abby chuckled. “But we wait until you’re 18 alright.”

“Abby,” the brunette snapped. The other woman held her hands up in surrender.

“Kidding!” Abby assured Rindy before mumbling quietly to herself, “not.”

Therese cleared her throat, intent on not thinking about what Abby was insinuating, but probably for very different reasons. Because Carol had shared something very intimate with her for her birthday, but it left her flustered and red to think about and it was certainly nothing she was going to discuss in front of her future daughter and Carol’s best friend/ex girlfriend. The more tame parts of that leading up to it, however…

“Carol took me to Chicago,” Therese continued, smiling down at Rindy. “We stayed in a beautiful hotel. Had a fancy dinner. She bought me a gorgeous camera.”

“A hotel in Chicago, huh?” Abby smirked, leaning back in her chair as she stared at Therese pointedly.

Neither of the older women missed the faint blush that passed over Therese’s cheeks, each knowing the significance of the location and Carol’s desire to perhaps recreate their past and do things a bit differently this time. Turning back the clock a bit, only to race ahead of the memory.

“Anyway,” Therese sighed, shooting a warning glare at Abby, before she continued. “We all know I can’t pull something as marvelous together as Carol can, and I don’t have a fortune to spend either, but I still want it to be special, of course.”

“I want to help!” Rindy exclaimed.

“Well, that’s just why you’re here, silly,” Therese grinned, squeezing her hand. “I was hoping you might like to help me make a cake.”

“Me?” Rindy gasped. “Can it be pink?”

“Of course,” Therese laughed with the younger girl. “It can be whatever you’d like. And I know your mom will love it.”

“I have an idea!” Rindy announced, racing off into her room, no doubt to grab her colored pencils that Therese had gotten her as a surprise a few weeks ago, so that she could draw out their design.

“Contrary to popular belief,” Abby smirked. “I may be able to help you.”

“Yeah?”

“Just don’t tell anyone I’m being nice,” Abby warned.

“I wouldn’t dare.”

*****

“Darling, I can’t believe you did this all for me,” Carol gushed, blotting the napkin against her lips as she looked out at the water. “How did you even know about this spot? I’ve loved it since I was a girl.”

“I had some help,” Therese shrugged.

“Well, I know that Rindy had a hand in the cake,” Carol laughed heartily. “Quite literally.” The two shared a laugh as Therese leaned back against the blonde, Carol humming against her as Therese looked down with a grin at the cake, that sure enough, had a messy handprint made of icing right smack in the middle of it that had originally had Therese wanting to cry and race out to the bakery, but then she thought better of it, knowing it would make Carol’s heart flutter to know that Therese and Rindy had baked it together and Therese had let the little girl run wild with ideas.

“Abby suggested the place,” Therese murmured, closing her eyes as she leaned further back against Carol, the blonde kissing the crown of her head.

“She can be nice sometimes,” Carol whispered.

“That’s exactly why I wasn’t supposed to tell you,” Therese giggled. “She might get a good rep.”

“There is one thing I was wondering you might do with me once our stomachs have settled from that beautiful picnic and Rindy’s…interesting…cake.”

“Anything,” Therese breathed, enjoying the gentle sway of the breeze around them and the smell of salt water in the air.

“Dance with me?” Carol asked, turning her head slightly to face the brunette as her eyes twinkled, her face already seeming to be dancing on its own.

Therese didn’t need to point out the fact that there was no music besides the occasional squak of seagulls or the sound of waves crashing in the distance, but she jumped up all the same, Carol pulling her head against her chest, circling her with gentle, strong arms as she started to sway them back and forth.

“I never thought I could be as happy as this, dearest,” Carol whispered into her hair, squeezing her tighter as Therese let her eyes flutter shut, feeling Carol’s embrace and love surrounding her.

“Mrs. Aird?” Your voice was timid, but your eyes were twinkling brightly. You were wrapped in a blanket over your shoulders that you no doubt snitched off of the living room sofa. Carol’s posture drooped a bit and she smiled tiredly at you.

Florence was on vacation, and though Carol had insisted she could stay home while Harge went to dinner to look after Rindy, he had retaliated and picked up the phone to call you, the babysitter, before any more arguments could have been made.

You stepped to the side, holding the door open so Carol could come in, blonde hair slowly falling from their curls.

“Where’s Mr. Aird?” you asked, noting how she came in alone. Carol sighed and forced a smile as she shook off her heels.

“Still at dinner. I wanted to come home early. Is Rindy in bed?” To be fair she had no idea if Harge would even come home tonight, though she didn’t let that get to her.

“She is. Fast asleep last I checked,” you answered.

“Damn,” Carol sighed. “I was very excited to say goodnight. I suppose that’s on me for coming this late after her bedtime.”

“You could probably pop in and give her a hug-,”

“No, no, I’ll let her sleep,” though her shoulders slumped, nonetheless.

“Would you like some tea? I just put the kettle on,” you asked, moving her shoes away from the doorway.

“Oh, you’re a sweetheart. I’d love some,” Carol said, smiling kindly. “I just need to hop in the shower quickly.”

“Of course,” you cleared your throat, flustered, but remaining as composed as possible.

Carol dragged herself upstairs and you went to make her a steaming cup of tea. Fingers brushing through your hair, you flattened out your dress to rid of the wrinkles.

A little bit of milk, and some sweet honey, and you had it ready. You knew the way Carol liked her tea, her coffee, her cutlery organised in the kitchen down to a t. You busied yourself cleaning the rest of the kitchen until you heard soft footsteps approaching you from behind.

Carol was in her bathrobe, hair damp, face fresh and calm, and your knees nearly buckled on the spot.

You passed her the mug carefully, fingers brushing. Carol leaned against the countertop and watched you as you kept tidying.

“You know you could leave that for Florence, right? You’re not in charge of every corner of the house. Only Rindy.”

You thought you were being reprimanded and you blushed, but when you met Carol’s gaze there was a teasing glimmer in her eyes and you smiled. “I just want it to be as spotless as can be. I don’t mind doing it, you know. It feels natural to do as part of my job.”

Carol hummed as she sipped her tea, “natural, you say.”

Her eyes gazed off into some far-away place. You knew the look; troubled and concerned, but you supressed the urge to ask and pry about it.

“Oh, goodness, look at the time,” Carol gasped. “I didn’t realize I had been that late. Or maybe I was in the bathroom too long.”

“You do enjoy luxuriously long showers,” you teased. Carol looked at you, her face unreadable. “From- from what I can tell.. Mrs. Aird.”

She smiled, just the barest hint of teeth showing, and you looked down, then glanced at the clock. “I should probably go. Technically my job was finished the moment you got back. I’m sorry for lingering.”

“No-, no no, you’re not lingering, darling,” Carol assured you, reaching across the countertop to gingerly grasp your hand. “I enjoy your company, really I do.”

“Well,” you muttered, feeling your cheeks heat up. Carol’s thumb swiped gently over your hand, and you hoped she wouldn’t feel your racing heartbeat.

As if on cue, a loud thunderclap from outside made you jump. Strong rain rumbled on the roof. Amidst the impromptu thunderstorm, Carol held your hand consistently, gripping your fingers as you both watched the wind and rain against the nearest window. 

“Well,” Carol murmured, “you shan’t be leaving now, darling. No cab is going to come out here at this time now with this storm. Stay the night.”

She stated it so matter of factly, as if there wasn’t any other option. You opened your mouth to object, again, but something came bounding down the stairs before either of you said anything.

Carol’s hand slipped away from yours, and you mourned the loss of the warmth as Rindy ran into the kitchen, whimpering and latching onto her mother’s bathrobe. The three year old began blabbering about the scary noises from outside and Carol lifted her onto her hip, hushing and cooing her soothingly. 

“Could you make her some warm milk, please?” Carol said to you softly before walking back up the stairs with her daughter in her arms.

You came to Carol’s bedroom with a warm bottle of milk and Carol’s mug in hand, which you had topped up with a bit more hot tea. You waited a moment, watching Carol as she soothed and spoke to her daughter, holding her small hands and brushing her hair away from her face. She was sitting cuddled in her mother’s lap on the big bed, nearly drowning in the massive duvet and blankets. 

When she noticed you in the doorway Carol beckoned you in, and helped Rindy take a few sips. Once finished, you took the bottle from the toddler and handed Carol her tea. 

“Oh, you shouldn’t have,” she whispered. You limply shrugged a shoulder and tentatively sat on the edge of the bed, holding one of Rindy’s small hands as she fell asleep.

Once Rindy was fully asleep, Carol reached a hand out to you to tap on your shoulder, nodding her head to the door to indicate you both should shuffle out quietly.

“Well, I suppose my bed’s been taken for the night,” Carol quipped, tightening her robe’s belt. 

“Oh, then take the guest room! I don't mind sleeping on the couch, really, it’s a nice couch,” you added. 

“Nonsense, whatever gave you that idea? Come on, the bed’s big enough for both of us.”

“But, Mrs. Aird-,”

“It’s just Carol, remember?” she said, eyes shining. “Come along.”

And that was how you ended up in the surprisingly spacious guest bed with Carol by your side, wearing an old pyjama set of hers, tucked under the heavy blankets. 

“What if Mr. Aird comes home when we’re sleeping?” you asked, softly. Carol was scribbling a note down to remember to call Abby tomorrow that she set on her nightstand.

“Oh, he won’t be coming home tonight, Y/N,” she said airily.

You blinked in surprised, quieted by the truthfulness of her voice and the implication of the statement.

“We got in a row at the party,” she admitted, avoiding your gaze as she fluffed her pillow. “He’s either at his parents’ or staying at Cy and Jeanette’s. Not that I mind.”

“I’m very sorry, Mrs. Ai-, Carol, I mean.”

“Don’t be,” she sighed, turning to look at you. “There’s nothing to be done about it. I’m happy you’re here instead. At least I don’t want to rip my hair out around you.”

“I’m happy too. Thank you for letting me stay.”

“How many times must I tell you, it really is no bother at all. Sleep now, you insufferable thing,” Carol laughed, running a warm hand through your hair.