Family

Really, Now

Heather was still in a state of vague disbelief over being kicked out of her bedroom.

Her. Own. Bedroom.

Sure, she didn't live with her mother and stepfather on a full-time basis anymore but come on. It had been her bedroom ever since Isa and Lucas bought the house together four years ago. That bedroom was rightfully hers.

What it wasn't was a place for her sister to take over for a bloody sleepover, on one of the few weeks Heather was actually home. To leave copious amounts of glitter and (she better not) smudges of nail polish on her blanket, and toss her stuff all over the place.

Honestly, siblings. Can't live with them, can't live without them.

Although Heather was leaning more to the first half of that statement at the moment.

The door to the house opened behind Heather, letting in a waft of frigid winter air. A moment later, she jumped as a cool hand was placed between her shoulder blades.

"How's the homework coming along?" Lucas, her stepfather, asked.

Leaning back so that she could see his face, Heather fixed a wry smile on her face. "You know. It's homework."

Lucas chuckled. "I do know it."

That said, Lucas walked over to Isa, who was busy doing something or other at the island. He gave her a kiss on the cheek, handing her a white envelope.

"There's a letter from Olivia," he said, referring to Isa's niece. Interest darted across Isa's face. Olivia wasn't exactly close to Heather or her (more like an acquaintance than anything) so if she was sending them something, chances are it was––

"Looks like a wedding invitation," Isa commented.

Yeah. That.

"I didn't even know she was dating anyone," Heather chimed in, turning back to her homework. Although, now that she thought about it, someone at the family reunion had mentioned her cohabiting with someone. Heather hadn't been paying attention to that particular conversation.

There was the sound of crinkling paper. Without looking up, Heather asked, "What's the lucky one's name?"

The silence stretched on long enough that Heather looked back up.

"It doesn't matter," Isa said, slamming the invitation onto the counter with more force than necessary. "We won't be going."

Heather exchanged a bewildered look with Lucas. What, had Olivia announced not a wedding, but some alternative to marriage? Was there a rite of passage she'd somehow missed...with an invitation?

"Why?" Heather asked, standing up and crossing over to her mother. "What's the big––"

Oh. That's what.

On the invitation was an image of two women, one with dark purple hair whom Heather didn't recognize, the other one undoubtedly Olivia. They were locked in a loving embrace, kissing each other deeply.

Heather thought the picture was sweet. Although the fact that her mother wasn't keen on a lesbian couple was apparent.

"Why shouldn't we go?" Lucas asked, peering over Heather's shoulder. "I don't see a problem."

Heather did her best to block out the following conversation, although that didn't stop the words "sin" and "wrong" from forcing themselves into her head. She waited for a break, half fearing to have her mother's ire turn on her.

Honestly, they weren't even that religious. Heather wasn't, anyway. She supposed that made her a postmodernist.

When Isa made a move as though to tear the invitation to shreds, Heather was quick to act. She snatched the invitation from her mother's hands, holding it behind her back.

"You might not be going," she said. "But I am." With a frown, she continued, "All Oliva wants to do is spend her life with someone she loves, just like you and Lucas. Try to be a little more understanding."

And with that, she gathered up her supplies and went to find somewhere else to work. 

Glossary:

Cohabiting: When two people are living together, and committed to each other, but are not married.

Alternative to marriage: Something that substitutes marriage, such as a civil union.

Rite of passage: Rituals that people undergo to pass from one social status to another.

Postmodernist: Rejection or skepticism toward the grand narrative. To live one's own story.