Chapter Eight

A month later Riley was channel surfing, wondering why there was never anything good on TV from eleven a.m. until six. It was discrimination against people who didn't work and just lay on the couch getting more and more pregnant. She was in two minds wheter or not to write an angry letter to the television executives demanding they change the onslaught of home improvment shows. Shane had bought her a mother and baby magazine, but Riley had yet to open it up. She was more interested in Elle and Cosmo. From upstairs she heard a door slam, signalling that Shane had finished his work out and had a shower and in a few minutes he'd arrive downstairs, sit next to her and watch a DVD. This was their routine. Sure enough, just as she'd finished 'Are You Really Ready To Settle Down?' he came downstairs and took the magzine from her hands.

"We're going out." He told her.

"Where?"

"Just out. Come on."

Riley pulled herself up off the couch and searched around for her shoes. She wondered if this was going to be another one of his attempts to get to know her better. She had to admit, after her intial anger had faded it wasn't a bad idea, the whole dating thing and she could undertstand why he wanted to do it. But they'd been trying a mouth and made very little progress. Riley tucked the laces into the sides of her shoes and found her coat. When she saw the smile on Shane's face, she couldn't help but wonder what he was upto this time.

Riley was furious. The frown had been a permanant feature on her face for ten minutes, ever since they'd arrived at the airport to 'pick someone up'. It may not have been her house, but Riley would of liked to have been informed that there would be a vistor. Especially one who was staying ten days meaning she'd be alone with them. Riley was already imagining an overbearing Aunt who'd probe her constantly for questions and tell her everything she was doing was wrong. Shane was scanning the arrivals lounge, he turned to look at her.

"Are you alright? You look pissed off."

"What do you think?" she snapped. "I'm going to have to entertain one of your relatives who'll ask me how we met and want to see wedding photographs and I don't even think we have any!"

He laughed and this only angered her futhur. "Don't worry. They're not like that."

"I'm going to get a drink from the canteen. I'll meet you there."

Riley turned on her heel and stalked away, not being able to get a highed pitched voice out of her head saying:

"Now Riley dear, you don't want to be doing that. Not in your condition."

She bought a diet coke and picked up a tatty, complimentary paper before settling herself on a table near the edge of the canteen. Well if she had to put up with one of Shane's relatives, maybe she'd invite Sydney and her brood to stay. A smile spread across her face. That would be great. She could imagine Shane trying to cope with her four demon spawn.

"That's the first time I've seen you smile in awhile." Shane said from the side of her. Riley didn't want to look yet, she had to mentally prepare herself, but didn't get a chance.

"Still pregnant I see Clarke." a familar voice chimed.

Now she looked and her smile widened. It was Alice.