Chapter 10
Riley had been a part of the family for almost two months now. Jane and Maura were seeing more and more of the bright, caring and loving teenager she really was. She helped around the house wherever she could and she loved working in the kitchen with her foster moms.
December was approaching quickly. It was freezing in Boston and the fire in the fireplace crackled peacefully as Jane and Maura sat at the dining table, looking at a pile of brochures and browsing the internet, searching for a good school for Riley. Lauren had informed Jane and Maura about the different options for Riley's education and now they had to make a decision.
"I keep coming back to that online program, Jane." Maura sighed and scrolled through a website on her laptop in front of her. "It would allow her to be homeschooled for at least a semester."
"I don't know, Maura, we talked about this." Jane replied. "I think it's good for her to be in a classroom again. It'll be hard and she'll have to get used to it, but I think it's good for her."
"I'm just not sure if she's ready." Maura said softly. "I like to keep her home a little longer."
Jane looked lovingly at her wife. "We can't keep her here forever, Maura. She has to go to school someday. She can take it."
Maura sighed deeply and opened another website of a so called charter school, one allowed Riley to be in smaller classes and have enough individual attention. She could start in January, giving Maura some time to help Riley catch up.
"This school offers a special science program. They have great teachers and the classes are advanced." Maura said while she scrolled through a website.
"Riley's not into science, Maur." Jane said while she browsed through a brochure. "She's smart, but I don't think she's interested in this program."
Maura sighed and closed the website. She knew Jane was right. Riley was an intelligent girl and she loved to read and learn new things, but this wasn't the right school for her.
"Where is Riley?" Maura asked, looking over her shoulder. "I want to know her opinion."
"I told her to go take a shower. Kid needed a break."
Maura knew Riley was tired. They had been searching for high schools all day. There were a few good schools in the area, but they wanted Riley to be in the best school possible.
"Alright." Jane threw a brochure on the table. "I think we can narrow it down to these three, don't you think?" She held up two brochures and pointed at the website on Maura's laptop. "They all offer extra tutoring to help Riley catch up on what she's missed."
Maura sighed. "I'm not sure." She looked up when she heard soft footsteps entering the living room. Riley walked towards the two women at the dining table, wearing a pair of sweatpants and a warm sweater, her hair still wet from the shower.
"Hey." Maura smiled sweetly.
"Are you still looking?" Riley asked with a sigh.
Jane nodded. "Yeah." She turned sideways in her chair and patted her knees, guiding Riley to sit in her lap. The girl walked towards Jane and sat down while Jane softly rubbed Riley's back. "We just want the best for you."
"I know." Riley picked up a brochure from the table and browsed through it, leaning against the back of the chair. "I was thinking…" Riley said softly. "I think I want to be a social worker. Like Lauren."
Maura smiled. "That's a great job."
"I'd like to help kids get into an amazing family just like Lauren did with me."
Jane kissed Riley's cheek. "You'd be an amazing social worker."
Riley smiled and fumbled with the hem of her sweater. "I don't know about that but I want to try."
"Well, you don't have to decide anything right now. But if that's where you want to go, we can rule out a few schools." Maura said.
"Really?" Maura saw Riley's shoulders relaxing in relief, she knew this process was exhausting the girl.
"Yes, I mean you don't need the science program at this school."
"We already knew that." Riley rubbed her forehead but smiled. "I suck at science and math."
"Oh science is much more various than that." Maura was about to explain why her field was incredibly interesting and various but when she looked at her wife she stopped talking. She saw Riley leaning sideways into Jane's arms, her eyes looking tired as Jane rubbed her upper arm.
"We can continue tomorrow." Maura said while she tucked a strand of hair behind Riley's ear. She closed the websites and started to close her laptop until Riley stopped her, grabbing her arm and looking at the background on Maura's laptop.
"Is that at your wedding?" She asked.
"Yes it is." Maura smiled at the picture on her computer. It was taken at their wedding day; a beautiful day in the spring. Jane was wearing a slim fitting white suit while Maura wore a beautiful long, tight wedding gown. Their foreheads were resting against each other and both women were smiling brightly, arms wrapped around each other's waists.
"You both look beautiful." Riley said softly.
"It was a beautiful day." Maura met with her wife's eyes and smiled. She knew it was a cliché, but their wedding day had truly been the happiest day of her life.
"So," Riley leaned back against the chair, looking at Jane, "how did you propose to Maura?"
"Actually, Maura proposed to me." Jane said with a bright smile.
"Really?" Riley looked at Maura with wide eyes. "I expected it the other way around."
Maura laughed. "Me too, to be honest. But Jane took too long so I decided to take matters into my own hands."
Jane reached over to playfully slap Maura's leg. "I did not take too long."
"Was it romantic?" Riley asked with a smile, immensely interested in their story.
Jane nodded. "Yeah. Maura's a real romantic." She softly smoothed Riley's wet hair. "She took me out to dinner at an amazing Italian restaurant. It was delicious and we had a great evening and when we got home, the entire living room was lit with candles. I turned around to see Maura on one knee with a ring in her shaking hand. She was too nervous to ask the question so I just said yes, and that was it."
Riley smiled and looked at Maura. "That's so sweet!" She said. "A little mushy and cliché, but sweet."
Maura laughed. "I have never been so nervous in my entire life. I was sick to my stomach all evening. I knew Angela was in the house lighting candles and preparing everything, and I was so afraid I'd scare Jane off and she'd run out the door and never come back."
"But I didn't. I said yes and we got married and it was amazing and then we got you and everything became even more amazing." Jane quickly tickled Riley's side and reached over to place a quick kiss on Maura's lips before she placed another kiss on Riley's cheek.
Maura watched Jane wrapping her arms around the girl as Riley snuggled in closely. She reached over to brush some hair out of Riley's face and felt happiness welling up in her heart, as she noticed how Riley didn't even flinch anymore and just enjoyed the touches.
Maura sighed deeply and got up from her chair. "Who wants some tea?" She asked.
Riley wrinkled her nose. "Only if you have orange. And some honey."
Maura laughed and reached for the orange flavored tea and a jar of honey. "If that's what it takes to make you drink tea in stead of hot chocolate…"
They enjoyed a quiet evening with each other, sitting in front of the crackling fireplace while the temperature outside was dropping drastically. Riley sat on the couch, her back leaning against the armrest, her legs folded. Jane and Maura sat on the other side of the couch, Maura resting closely into Jane's side, wrapped up in her wife's arms. Riley was reading the last Harry Potter book for the second time while Maura was catching up on some medical journals and Jane was watching TV.
Maura sighed and looked up from her reading, letting her gaze wander across the room. The crackling fire, a TV show Maura didn't understand and her two loves sitting next to her. She thought about how perfect this evening was and felt tears burning in her eyes. She couldn't be happier, she didn't want to be anywhere in the world right now. She snuggled closer into Jane's side and felt her wife's lips pressing against her hairline.
"You okay, Maur?" Jane asked softly.
Maura nodded and kissed Jane's jaw. "I love you." She whispered.
Jane smiled and wrapped her arms tighter around her wife. "I love you too."
Maura rested her head on Jane's chest, placing the journal next to her. Jane kissed the top of Maura's head. "My mom asked me if we knew what we're doing for Christmas this year." Jane said.
"Already?" Maura said, slightly lifting her head. "It's not even December yet. Thanksgiving is next week."
Jane sighed. "You know how she is."
They had been spending Thanksgiving with Jane's family for years now, so it only made sense for them to do the same this year. But they hadn't made any plans for Christmas. Last year Jane and Maura took a vacation and went to a beautiful beach house in Florida.
"What would you like to do?" Maura asked.
Jane shrugged and smoothed Maura's hair. "I don't care. As long as I'm with you and Riley, I'm fine."
"Would it be okay if I ask my parents over for dinner?" Maura asked carefully, knowing that they weren't close with her adoptive parents. Her mother had called to ask about Riley, but she hadn't shown more interest than just that call. She had been in Paris for the majority of the year.
"Yeah, of course." Jane answered.
"Riley, would that be alright with you?" Maura asked while she placed a hand on Riley's leg.
Riley looked up from her book and nodded. "What?"
"Would it be alright with you if I ask my parents to visit for Christmas? I'd really like for them to meet you." Maura said with a smile.
"Sure. I'd like to meet them too." Riley said shyly, but Maura already saw the girl tensing up.
Maura slowly untangled herself from Jane to face Riley. "It scares you doesn't it?" She asked softly.
Riley didn't answer and just nodded, pulling her knees up to her chest.
"They'll love you, Riley." Maura said sweetly.
"I'm just not very good with meeting new people, that's all."
"You were great with meeting us." Maura smiled. "I liked you from the moment we met you."
Riley smiled an insecure smile. "I liked you too. I still do."
Maura reached over to kiss Riley's forehead. "I'm glad to hear that. You're stuck with us until you're eighteen and the next four years would be incredibly challenging if you didn't like us." She said with a smile.
Riley laughed and her cheeks turned red as Maura stroked Riley's hair. "So, you're kicking me out as soon as I turn eighteen?" She asked jokingly.
"Well, legally you're allowed to take care of yourself as soon as you turn eighteen. But I'd rather see you staying with us until you're at least thirty-five." She said with a serious face.
Jane snapped out of her television program and playfully slapped her wife's arm. "I didn't agree to that!"
Riley laughed as Maura turned to kiss Jane's cheek. "You'll love it, admit it."
"Okay, yes. But don't get cocky." She smirked.
Maura looked at Riley and saw the girl yawning. Dark circles were forming under her eyes and she looked pale. "You should go to bed, honey."
Riley nodded and closed her book. "It's gonna be cold tonight, there's an extra blanket in the closet in the hall." Jane said.
"Okay." Riley put down her book and turned around.
"Wait," Maura said, stretching her arms, "don't I get a goodnight-hug?"
Riley smiled and sat back down to wrap her arms around Maura's neck, accepting the warm embrace. "Goodnight, sweetheart." Maura whispered.
She kissed Riley's cheek as the girl loosened her grip. "Goodnight."
"Wait, me too." Jane said. She grabbed Riley's arm before she got up and gave her a quick hug.
Riley giggled and pushed Jane away when she started covering her face in kisses. "Okay, I said I liked it but it's getting annoying now." They laughed and Maura saw happiness radiating from her wife's face.
"Goodnight." Riley said with a smile as she quickly walked upstairs, avoiding more hugs and kisses.
"I love her." Jane whispered when she pulled Maura in for a warm hug. Maura felt tears welling up in her eyes and pulled back to cup Jane's face and kiss her lips. They hadn't said it out loud until now, but Maura knew it had been true for a while. They had locked Riley in their hearts weeks ago and the affection for the girl only grew stronger with time. Maura loved Riley with all her heart and she wanted nothing more than for Riley to be their daughter.
Maura lifted her feet up the couch and rested her head on Jane's chest, her wife's arms wrapped tightly around her. "Do you think we can move on to adopting her eventually?" She asked softly.
Jane sighed. "I hope so. It'll be complicated so we'll have to find a good lawyer."
"I have a good lawyer." Maura closed her eyes and enjoyed Jane's strokes on her back. "But I want to know what Riley wants."
"She wants to stay, Maur." Jane answered softly.
Maura felt tears burning in her eyes and swallowed a lump in her throat. "What if she doesn't?" She whispered. Maura didn't know why, but she still felt a hint of fear. A hint of fear to be rejected, the fear that their love would stay unanswered.
Jane cupped Maura's face and guided her wife to look at her. "She loves you, Maura. She doesn't say it, but she does."
Maura smiled while she felt a tear trickling down her cheek. She grabbed Jane's hands from her face and pulled them around her own waist while she snuggled back into Jane's arms. "I don't know if I can be an official mother." She whispered.
Jane tightened her grip around her crying wife. "Where did these insecurities come from?" She asked softly.
"I don't know." Maura's voice trembled as her tears kept falling; tears of love, tears of fear of the unknown, tears of happiness. She knew it didn't make sense. Normally, the doctor's mind worked solely in logic ways, but right now, all logic was gone. She knew it wouldn't change much if they adopted Riley. She was already her foster mother. Being her official mother wouldn't change anything except for a piece of paper. But it sounded different. It added pressure. She felt fear and uneasiness and she couldn't point the source.
A husky voice interrupted her thoughts. "The most important thing a mother has to do is love her child." Jane said while she rubbed Maura's back. "You're already amazing at that."
Maura couldn't stop her tears from falling, her throat closed up and she clung to her wife. She knew Jane was right. All Riley needed was a home, a family and love. They were providing that and Riley was content. Of course the girl needed guidance and Jane and Maura needed to be strict and clear with her, but all of that comes from love. Loving her was the first step in everything and that step was taken.
Being a mother wasn't an easy job; both Maura and Jane knew that. But being a mother starts with loving your child and that job turned out to be the easiest job in the world.
Thanks to tlc125 for helping me figure out the American education system, I hope I got it right! I feel like this chapter is kind of uninteresting, but the next chapter will be a big one. I hope you stick around for that! Please let me know your thoughts and feelings. : )