Raegan Gallagher-Milkovich

39- Shes fucking amazing

     Raegan walked through her front door after school, flinging her bag on the floor. "Hey! I'm home guys!" She called out, coming into the living room to find her dads.

     They were both standing, and a woman.. who looked thin and tired.. sick almost sat on her couch.

"Who's this?" She asked.

"Uhh, rugrat this is Mandy. She's um.." Ian stuttered.

"I'm your aunt sweetheart," Mandy smiled, fidgeting with her fingers as she spoke.

Raegan screwed her face up in confusion, "Fucking aunt?" She looked between the three of them, "which.. like what.."

"She's my sister Rae," Mickey mumbled under his breath.

Raegan felt as if she couldn't take in the information, "I thought you only had brothers dad? Like you always said I've only ever had uncle Iggy, uncle Joey and uncle Colin."

"And aunt Mandy. She's just been gone for a while," Ian explained.

     Raegan didn't know about the whole situation of Mandy being her surrogate, they never discussed their situation and Raegan was fine with it too, Mickey and Ian had always both been her dads and that's how it would stay.

"I mean, hi?" Raegan greeted. Mandy smiled and stood up, "Hi Raegan," she smiled, walking towards her to hug her.

Raegan was shocked that she suddenly hugged her, she looked at Mickey who just shrugged, then hesitantly hugged her back.

     "So.. how come she's here?" Raegan butted in.

     "She just is, now shut the fuck up and go get a beer rugrat," Ian said, giving her a nudge into the kitchen, leaving Mandy with her dads.

     The three exchanged glances. This was going to be so fucking weird.

***

     The next day, Raegan came home to find Mandy cooking in their kitchen. Ian and Mickey were out at work and she groaned at the thought of having to make small talk with her aunt.

"Oh, hey Raegan," Mandy greeted with a smile, stirring some pot that smelled funny.

"Hey Mandy," Raegan tried to smile back, throwing her bag down and sitting at the kitchen table.

"Was school okay?"

"Same as always."

There was a silence, both of them knowing this was an unusual situation.

"How come I haven't met you until now? Dad never even mentioned you, I was convinced he only had brothers," Raegan questioned.

Mandy sighed, "If I'm honest, I guess I did a really dickhead thing shortly after you were born. So I took off, had a massive argument with your dad and split."

Raegan nodded, playing around with her carton of cigarettes, "what you do?"

"Doesn't matter now," Mandy shrugged, not looking up from the pot, "Anyways, you got a boyfriend? Or any guys sniffing around you?"

"Meh, not really," Raegan shrugged, lighting up a cigarette.

"Not really?"

"Well, there's one guy. We've been on and off for ages though. Love hate relationship I guess," Raegan explained, surprised at how much interest Mandy was showing in her.

"What relationship isn't a love hate one."

Raegan smiled, "Yeah I guess you're right."

"Just as long as they don't fuck with you. If they do that, stab them in the eye."

"Don't worry. I definitely know how to put men in their place. Using just words sometimes, or a quick kick in the balls they'll shut up real quick," Raegan giggled, Mandy smiling back, "You're a Milkovich alright."

Raegan was actually starting to think her aunt was cool, and whatever dickhead thing she did mustn't have been that bad. I guess it was nice she took an interest in her.

***

     Mandy sat at the table with Mick and Ian later that night after Raegan drank her body weight, danced and did karaoke with her vodka bottle and passed out on the couch. One of her best talents.

     They sat, sipping beers and smoking cigarettes.

     "By the way.. thanks for letting me stay. I love spending time with Raegan so much," Mandy piped up.

Ian smiled, looking at Raegan asleep on the couch. Her chest falling up and down, "Yeah. She's great."

"I never thought you'd have kids Mick if I'm honest."

"Yeah well.. wasn't the fuckin type was I. But I don't care now, she's like.. the most important thing in my life, couldn't live without that rugrat," Mickey shrugged, not wanting to sound like a pussy of course.

"Well. She's fucking amazing," Mandy smiled, "really amazing. I can't believe she's grown this much."

Both men were surprised at how taken aback she was by Raegan. You could really tell she had love for her.. and regretted missing so much.

"Well yeah.. you miss a lot after splitting for fifteen years," Mickey grunted.

"Mick, you knew I had to."

"Let's not start this argument now please, don't fucking wake Raegan," Ian butted in.

Mickey scoffed, "as if she'd wake up. The amount she drank tonight she won't wake up until next week."

The three were silent for a moment, "You know I wouldn't come here to fuck things up unless I was seriously desperate."

"Why the fuck were you desperate?" Mickey suddenly snapped.

"I just got into some trouble. Just, if I stayed where I was shit would go to shit."

Ian took a sip of his beer, "Don't worry Mandy. Just as long as that trouble doesn't follow you."

Mandy bit her lip and looked down. Mickey raised his eyebrows at her, "Mandy? It best not fucking follow you. We have Raegan."

"Yeah.. it won't."