Page 76 of Catching Feelings

“Seriously.” Riley bops her with a pillow. “Not everyone has a one-track mind like you.”

“Pot, kettle, Mrs. Bankes. You and Walker aren’t any better.”

“True.” Riley glows as she squeezes Emmitt’s little foot. “And we made the most perfect baby from it.”

“He is.” Kendall sighs. “Potato and I have been talking about it.”

“Having sex?” Riley grins.

Kendall rolls her eyes at Riley. “Babies.”

“You and Nash are pregnant?” My excitement jolts Emmitt and I stand up to rock him back to sleep.

“No. We’retalkingabout having a baby.”

“While having sex,” Riley adds.

“No. We talk about it after. Sometimes before, but not during. At least, not yet.”

“Smart ass.” Riley bops her again.

“You and Nash are such good parents to Paisley, and she’ll be the best big sister.”

We talk about babies until halftime. The Revs are up by a touchdown and Riley and I head out to watch the rest of the game in our respective homes.

As soon as I walk through the door and turn on the game, my phone rings. I shouldn’t frown when I read my mom’s name, but it’s not like her to call this late. Instead of being worried something happened, my first thought iswhat does she want from me now?I’m a terrible, selfish daughter for wanting to turn my phone off anytime my mom calls, which is why I’ve never let anyone know how I feel about my family. Not even Kendall or Riley.

“Hi, Mom.” I lower the volume on the television. I don’t really care to hear what the announcers have to say anyway. My attention is on number eighty-six. Since Philly’s offense is on the field, Miles isn’t on the field.

“Your sister had a fall at work yesterday.” No greeting. Nosorry to wake youbecause I normally start getting ready for bed right now, but if my sister is hurt, I can see why she’d get right to the point.

“Is she okay?” I’d be more worried, but if her life was in danger Mom would have called me right away. She’d want the entire world to crowd around Natalie with support, sympathy, and attention.

Nat’s always loved being the center of attention, and our mom loves doting on her. And my little brother Cameron. He’ll be twenty-nine soon and still lives at home with no desire to move out.

Kendall lived with her mom and sister until she moved in with Nash, but that was to help them. To support them. Cameron works at an auto body shop and spends his money on beer, video games, and car parts. As far as I know, he doesn’t do anything around the house and doesn’t pay any bills.

If you look up the word enabler in the dictionary, you’d see a picture of Donna McDaniels.

If you look up the word mooch, you’ll find a picture of Cameron McDaniels.

If you look up the word oblivious, you’d see a picture of Paul McDaniels. Dad doesn’t get involved in family matters. He works long hours as an insurance adjuster and travels a lot. I guess he loves us in his own way. We had a roof over our head, food on the table, and enough money so Mom could take Natalie to gymnastics competitions all around the country.

While she followed Nat around, I filled in for her; cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping. Making sure the men in the house were taken care of like a doting fifties housewife.

The relationship may work for my parents, but it didn't work for me.

It still doesn’t work for me.

The neglected middle child.

The peacekeeper.

The one who cleans up the messes and fills in with whatever needs to be done, but no one ever bothers asking me what I need. What I want.

“Are you even listening, Rowan?” my mom scolds. “Your sister has to have ACL surgery. Do you have any idea what this means?”

Kinda, since I’m a nurse and all. Not that I work in surgery or having any training with orthopedics, but yeah, I’m familiar. Because my mom needs to hear my sympathy, I appease her.

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