Opposites Attract - Riff Lorton

chapter fourteen

The girls had woken up at around 9:40, when all of the cooking was almost done, apart from the toast.
After they'd freshened up, they all helped set up the table, putting down plates, and filling jugs with various juices and water.
Kathleen was so glad to have some help, even through her insistence of having them relax.
Riff was right, the boys did wake up at around 10:30. After one work up, they all did.
Kathleen was just cleaning up the counters as Baby John came up to her.
"Good morning sweetie, how are you feeling?"
"Kathleen, I honestly feel pretty awful. I think I'm sick."
Kathleen's eyebrows raised with concern.
"Come here,"
She walked over to him and put the back of her hand on his forehead.
"Oh dear, you've got a fever. How's your throat? It does sound a bit sore."
"Feels like it."
Kathleen thought for a moment.
"Breakfast is almost ready, so eat something first, then I'll give you some medicine, okay?"
Baby John nodded his head and thanked her with gratitude.
"Alright, has everyone brushed their teeth? I bought toothbrushes, all different colours."
The Jets nodded simultaneously.
"Good. Come on then, I made breakfast."
Everyone was seated exactly as they were the night they had dinner together. Each person took whatever food they wanted and wolfed it down.
"This might be the best thing I've ever eaten in my life."
"I might start crying, this is so good."
"Holy shit this is so good."
"Language please."
Although she appreciated the compliments, she still had morals, and flattery would not change those.
"Y'know, today we's gonna take Kathleen here to the junkyard. Everybody should come."
"Yes, we're going to get ice cream after as well."
Cheers erupted from the group.
"Okay, okay. Is everyone done? I'll start cleaning up while you guys get ready. All of your clothes are dry, so you can change back into those if you want. Baby John, just hold on hon', I'll give you some medicine."
Everyone except for Dot, Velma, and Baby John got up from their chairs.
The four started chatting as the younger two girls started tidying up the table, and Baby John sat waiting for his medicine.
"Here you go sweetie. You'll feel better soon. Go get ready now, hm?"
Baby John gave her a nod and left the dining room.
"You know Kathleen, Riff's head over heels for you."
"Yeah, he's got that look in his eyes."
Dot agreed.
"I- okay. Thank you for telling me. I'm head over heels for him too."
Big smiles formed on the girls' faces.
"Most of the Jets feel like you're our mom, the way you take care of us."
Kathleen was satisfied with that. It meant they felt cared for.
"Are you girls going to change? If you want you could borrow something of mine, too. Actually, Dot, why don't you ask any of the girls if they want to, please?"
She put the remaining dishes in the sink, and went to ask them.
"Thank you Kathleen. We really appreciate you doing all this for us. You can ask us for help whenever."
"I'm really glad to be taking care of people again."
"What do you mean?"
Kathleen feared she had overstepped her own boundaries.
"I was actually married before."
"Oh wow. Why'd you divorce? Assuming it was div-"
"Hey doll, you done in here?"
"Hey Riff, yeah, pretty much. I was just telling Velma about my ex husband. Are the boys all done?"
"Your ex husband? Why? And yeah they're mostly done too. Is Baby John okay?"
"She was curious, and Baby John will be a-okay. I'm sure he's just got a cold from the rain last night."
He shrugged his shoulders, leaving the kitchen after giving Kathleen a kiss on the top of her head, making her smile.
"Anyway, uh- as I was saying. I did get divorced, because it's not very likely that I'm able to have kids, and that was a dealbreaker for him,"
she paused,
"He was nice though. He left me a huge house with everything in it. In fact he didn't take much of anything when he left, that's why I have so many men's clothes."
Velma nodded,
"I see. I'm sorry that happened."
Kathleen reciprocated her apology.
"Alright. Let's go and get ready then.