Page 18 of Last Call (Open Tab #5)

Chapter Three

Riley stepped out of the bedroom just as Fallon opened the door for Beth.

Beth offered Fallon a tense smile. Evan walked in next, with Owen following closely behind him.

Pete entered afterward, carrying Hope. Riley observed how Pete held Hope tightly, as if he were afraid she might slip away from him.

“Sorry about this,” Beth apologized.

“Don’t be silly,” Riley said.

Evan looked at Fallon. “Is it okay if I watch a movie with Owen in the other room?”

Owen grinned. “ Shrek ?” he asked Evan.

“If it’s okay with your moms,” Evan said.

Fallon noted that Evan wouldn’t look at any of the adults.

“Sure,” Fallon said.

“ Shrek! ” Owen exclaimed, grabbing Evan’s hand and pulling him away.

Fallon looked at Beth.

“He’s upset with me,” Beth explained. “He wants to go with us to the hospital. I tried to explain that it could be a long night. He wants to stay with Pete.”

“Any word?” Riley asked gently.

Pete shook his head. “No. But you know Dale, he’s a man of few words,” he said, reluctantly handing Fallon the baby.

“Marge will be okay,” Fallon offered. “So will the baby.”

Pete’s attempt to smile died on his lips.

“We should go,” Beth said.

“Thanks, Fallon,” Pete said. “I know you guys had plans.”

“You don’t need to thank us,” Fallon said. “Take care of Marge and Dale. Call us if you need anything.”

Pete nodded and started toward the door.

“I’ll call you when we know something,” Beth promised. She gently rubbed Pete’s back as they left.

Fallon closed the door and turned to Riley. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like that,” Fallon said.

“I think you should talk to Evan,” Riley suggested.

“Beth is right,” Fallon replied. “Evan doesn’t need to be there. It will be stressful, and God forbid anything goes wrong.”

“Beth is right. I think Evan wants to be there for Pete—and Marge, if I had to guess.”

“I know Evan has gotten close with Pete,” Fallon said.

“Fallon.”

“What?”

“You can’t tell me you don’t know,” Riley said.

“Know what?”

Riley shook her head. “Pete and Beth.”

“What about them?”

“Oh, my God, babe.”

“Pete’s been a good friend to her. He’s been great for Evan.”

“I think it’s more than that.”

“Wait. You think Beth and Pete are—no way. Come on. He’s been great, helping her out. They’re friends.”

“I seem to recall a friend who helped me out. I married her,” Riley said.

Fallon plopped on the sofa with Hope, who started giggling.

“Why do babies always laugh at me?” Fallon mused. “Am I funny looking?” she asked, making a face. Hope laughed with delight.

“No, but you are silly—and a little clueless,” Riley offered.

“Riley,” Fallon said. “Why wouldn’t one of them say something if they’re—you know.”

“If they’re, you know? Good God, Fallon, you can’t even say it.”

Hope grabbed at Fallon’s nose and hair, babbling happily. Fallon made another ridiculous face at her niece, then turned to Riley. “You actually think Beth and Pete are—doing it?”

That did it. Riley burst out laughing. Laughter provided a momentary reprieve from worry.

“Haven’t you noticed how close Beth and Pete have gotten? The way he looks at her, the little touches,” Riley said.

Fallon shook her head, bouncing Hope on her knee. “Pete’s been there for her during a tough time.”

Riley sighed. “For someone so intelligent, you can be remarkably dense sometimes.”

“Hey!” Fallon protested. “I resent that,” she said dramatically.

“But you don’t deny it,” Riley countered with a smirk.

Fallon stuck her tongue out at her wife before turning her attention back to Hope. “Your Aunt Riley is being very silly. She thinks your mom has a thing for Pete.”

Hope squealed and clapped her hands. Fallon grinned triumphantly at Riley. “See? Hope agrees with me.”

“Uh-huh. Hope is amused by anything you say if you use that goofy voice.”

“Goofy? Now I’m Goofy?” Fallon asked, lifting Hope. “Do I look like a dog?” she asked the baby.

Riley shook her head affectionately at the display.

“Do you really think something is going on between them?” Fallon asked.

“If you’re asking me if they’ve slept together, I doubt it. I don’t think they’ve had the space to cross that bridge.”

“I don’t want to see anyone get hurt,” Fallon said.

“Don’t project doom,” Riley advised. “They’re good for each other. Pete loves Beth.”

Fallon sighed.

“And he loves the kids.”

“Yeah.”

“I think the piece you’ve missed is that they all love Pete. That’s why Evan wants to go to the hospital. Evan and Hope have spent more time with Pete, Marge, and Dale the last few months than they have with us,” Riley said.

Hope smiled at Fallon and placed her hands on Fallon’s cheeks.

“I haven’t been a great auntie, have I?” Fallon asked the baby.

Hope smiled wider.

“Don’t do that,” Riley told Fallon.

“I know I’ve been caught up with the house,” Fallon said. “I haven’t made enough effort to spend time with Beth and the kids.”

“I think Beth deliberately stepped away from everyone, even Barb.”

“Come on, Barb is her best friend.”

“Yes,” Riley agreed. “And that won’t change. But don’t you think they’ve all needed to carve out a new path?”

“Not away from each other.”

“Maybe a little distance is healthy for everyone. Barb and Beth both need to find their footing, Fallon—they’re both single moms now. And there’s a lot of baggage, not only for them, but for the kids.”

Riley’s observations were insightful and made sense.

Loss inevitably triggered transformation.

Grief had a way of making someone examine their priorities.

But transformation manifested differently for everyone.

Fallon left behind a lucrative career to buy a dilapidated pub, while Riley relocated from the warmth and bustling life of San Diego to a tiny town in rural Vermont.

Fallon had lost count of how often people remarked that her grief drove her back home, and as for Riley?

She endured her sister’s constant chatter about how she was simply escaping home.

Losing someone important prompted everyone to seek stability.

Death pulled the rug out from under you.

It was like the ground shifting beneath you as the tide comes in, leaving you to fight for your balance.

In the end, everyone desired to find a place where they felt steady—a place to call home.

Despite her best efforts to be there for everyone, Fallon continued to struggle with unresolved emotions.

Her anger towards Dean, along with the confusion and sadness over Liv’s death, clouded her recognition of the shared loss that Barb and Beth experienced.

Both women had imagined a future with someone who was now unexpectedly gone, albeit in different ways.

The sting of betrayal heightened the pain of their grief.

Liv and Dean’s secrets, coupled with Dean’s misguided loyalty to Liv, had fractured the trust of all three women.

Fallon had something neither Barb nor Beth could claim; she had Riley to ground her—she had found her place to call home .

“Fallon?” Riley asked.

“Have you talked to Barb lately? I just realized I haven’t seen her in a few weeks.”

“The other day. Why? I think she’s just trying to adjust. She needs to find something more suitable for her housing needs.

My place worked for this semester. The girls need more space, and I think Barb would like to be closer to the university.

It’s another inevitable change. I think it’s a little overwhelming.

You know? Beth is in the same boat. We both know your mom loves having Beth and the kids at the house. Beth needs space, too.”

“Maybe she’ll move in with Pete.”

Riley sighed.

“What? Why not?”

“She hasn’t said anything to me,” Riley said. “And it wouldn’t surprise me if that happens one day. I doubt Beth will rush into living with Pete.”

“What do you think?”

“I think she’d like to have the space to figure out what is next for them—her own space, Fallon. I also know she wants to stay in Whiskey Springs. It’s not as if there are dozens of houses for sale.”

Fallon placed Hope on the floor with her toy car. She looked back at Riley. “She could stay here when our house is finished.”

“She could. I don’t think Beth loves the idea of asking you for anything.”

“Beth can ask me for anything. So can Barb. I’ve told them that.”

“Mm-hm. You can’t wave a magic wand or your deep wallet and fix this. Not this. You know it.”

“I don’t want to fix anything. I just want to help.”

“Yes, but your way of helping is to find solutions for everyone. I love you for it. We all love you for it. The best thing you can do right now is just let them come to you. Except maybe for Evan.”

Fallon cast her gaze towards the hallway. “I’m not sure what to say to him.”

“Let him know it’s okay that he sees Pete as a father figure.”

Fallon looked back at Riley, stunned.

“Evan adores you, Fallon. You’re his aunt. You’re Dean’s sister. He needs you to be okay with it.”

“What do I say?”

“You don’t need my help with that,” Riley replied. “Just talk to him.”

“Now?”

Riley raised her brow. She started to respond when her phone rang.

Fallon held her breath.

“Hi,” Riley said. “Did you get a call?” she asked.

“No,” Andi replied. “I can’t sit still. Carol called. She said Ida just strolled into Murphy’s. Charlie is there, too. I thought maybe we could all meet there. Dave has been pacing.”

Riley looked at Fallon.

“What?” Fallon asked.

“Andi suggested we all meet down at Murphy’s. Your mom just got there.”

“My mom is at the bar?”

“I don’t think anyone wants to be alone,” Riley said.

“It’s already eight. What about Owen and Hope?”

“They’ll be fine.”

Andi chimed in. “I’ll bring the pack-and-play I bought for the baby,” she said. “Hope can nap—if she needs to.”

“Andi’s got it covered,” Riley said.

Fallon nodded. “I’ll get the boys. You take Hope duty.”

“Riley?” Andi asked.

“We’ll meet you there,” Riley promised. She scooped Hope up into her arms. “This family is a mess sometimes,” she said.