Raegan
Turning my key in the lock, I twist the handle and swing the apartment door open. It feels weird to be home and I haven’t even been gone a long time, all things considered. I place my keys on the entryway table and kick my shoes off.
Muffled voices drift through the air, signaling my sister and the boys are here again. Or maybe they never left. I don’t mind. I love her and my nephews, but if she’s spending more time away from home, things with Greg must be pretty bad.
“I’m home,” I call loudly, hoping not to startle them.
“Auntie Rae!” Xander shouts while running to meet me halfway, then jumping into my arms. “Where has you been? We miss you.”
Sweet baby Xander is growing up so fast. “Hey, my little Xanadu. How did you learn so many words since I’ve been gone? You’re practically a big boy now!” I coo, pinching his little nose and kissing his cheek.
“I don’t know. I just smart.”
“Yeah, buddy. You sure are.” I set him back on his feet and continue down the hall until I see my older nephew planted on the couch and fully engrossed in his video game.
“Hey, Jonah.” I scruff up his hair and he pulls his head away in irritation. “You winning?”
“I’d be closer if you hadn’t distracted me.”
“Don’t mind him, Rae. He’s got ball hair now and thinks he’s grown. He’s too good for us now.” I look up to see Sutton leaning against the wall separating the kitchen and the living room with a kitchen towel draped over her shoulder.
“Mom! Jesus, can younot?” Jonah shouts without removing his eyes from the tv screen. Kid doesn’t miss a beat.
“You’re back.” Sutton states plainly.
I shoot her a cheeky grin. “My sister, ladies and gents. Mistress of the obvious.”
Her eyes roll as she turns back into the kitchen. “Don’t be a dick. It’s unbecoming of a lady. Besides, I’m pretty sure you’re the mistress between the two of us.”
Following her into the kitchen, I snicker at her snark and bite back, “It’s funny you think I’m a lady. I’m a professional. There’s a difference.”
Her upper body jostles as she laughs silently with her back to me. I lean into the counter and slide my hip against the edge until it bumps into hers, but she doesn’t budge.
“Nice try.”
I scrunch my nose playfully, then peck her cheek. “What are you making?”
“Stir fry. Jonah actually requested something… for once. I couldn’t tell him no.”
“Like you’ve ever told him no.”
“He’s been through a lot.”
She’s right, he has. But they’ve all been through a lot. Jonah’s not the only one. But I don’t want to argue with her aboutthat. It never ends well.
Her hands move effortlessly, slicing and chopping peppers and onions in perfectly symmetrical pieces. She’s so good, it’s like watching moving art. She finishes, then scoops it all up and drops it in the hot oil, where it sizzles the second it hits the pan. She wipes her hands on the towel still draped over her shoulder, then grabs the handle and slides it against the burner until the foodshuffles around in the pan. I have no idea what she’s doing or what’s in that pan but it smells like heaven.
“Are you back for good?” she asks while stirring everything in the pan, her back still to me.
She’s not going to like this. “No, I’m moving to Chicago permanently.”
Her head whips around like a tornado, “What the fuck, Rae. What about your practice?”
“I already talked to a colleague and she’s happy to take my patients. It’s not like I’ve never started a practice from scratch. I can do it again.”
She clicks the burner off and turns to face me, moving over to lean her ass against the counter. “What happened to getting closure?”
“I got my closure, for the most part. We have some work to do, but I love him. If I’m being honest with myself, I never stopped. I have a lot to tell you. Can we talk about it over dinner? Becausethatlooks fucking amazing.”
