This felt perfectly domestic, in a way Rowan could have never anticipated. Mostly, Juniper was at the heart of all of that. She felt at peace, and almost giddy, watching Juniper move around her space, the edges of her wildflower-print sundress lifting slightly as she twirled around from refrigerator to cabinet to kitchen table.
Rowan thought Juniper looked like she had sprouted upfrom the ground like a wildflower herself, new life beckoning her way toward the sky, stretching herself to be fed by the sun. The one wildflower Rowan wanted to pick day after day, year after year. So much had changed in the last few months, and it didn’t scare Rowan anymore. Rather, it made her feel like she actually was at home.
She imagined catching the side of Juniper’s sundress and pulling her in close. Twisting Juniper around to put her between the counter and herself. Getting a chance to hold her unreservedly, kiss her soft lips ardently but unrushed, taking her time to study and appreciate each and every instance of what others might consider evidence of life’s ‘imperfections’ across her body, running her hands up those thighs that she knew would tease her the rest of her life. Noticing she was white-knuckling the counter, she pushed away a little too forcefully and pretended to busy herself with straightening plates and utensils until Juniper’s next request came through.
“You’ve done a lot. Can I get you something?” Rowan finally asked, unable to quell her nervous energy for too long.
Juniper squeezed Rowan’s forearm as she brushed by her to set the final dish on the table. “No, I appreciate that though. I think I’m almost done. I just need to put the drinks in the cooler and take it outside.”
“Let me do that,” Rowan blurted out.
If she didn’t move quickly enough, Juniper would already be halfway done with whatever task loomed ahead. Plus Rowan needed to separate herself momentarily until the skin on her arm, and the other areas Juniper had brushed against, stopped tingling. And she definitely, definitely needed to occupy her hands. She was not in the mood to be quick, and they had already been expecting company for the last 15 minutes.
“Wren’s here,” Juniper called out, moving to open the front screen door to let her in. “Oh, you look cute! Do you have on lipstick?” Juniper’s baffled face sniffed the air. “Is that new perfume?”
Wren, in a red matching shorts and crop top set, blewJuniper a kissing face instead of answering her questions and had barely made it through the door before she started firing away with her own.
“Damn Rowan, this is really nice. Likereallynice. I haven’t been in any of the new housing developments. How did you luck out like this?” Wren’s eyes were wide, scanning the living room area that opened into the kitchen.
Juniper was still side-eying her cousin’s appearance.
“I can’t believe it, honestly. It was all Theo,” Rowan responded as she put the last of the drinks into the cooler.
“Junie, you should just move in here. This has to have at least 3 bedrooms, huh?”
“Oh, umm, I don’t…” Juniper stumbled.
“Does it?” Wren asked, this time directed at Rowan.
Rowan cleared her throat before answering. “It does. My bedroom and bathroom are on the other side of the kitchen, and then two bedrooms down that hall right there share the other bathroom.”
“Can I have a tour?”
The Banks women were nothing if not absolutely direct.
Rowan chuckled and flared out her hand. “Of course.”
Rowan led them down the hall to the other two bedrooms. One bedroom she had been using as a sort-of office, with an entire wall of bookcases filled with books already. The other bedroom, however, was completely empty.
“Damn, why no curtains?”
“I was just thinking about nailing up old blankets, that old Indian way.”
Wren’s high-pitched laugh squeaked out, and it made Rowan laugh even harder.
“Juniper!” Wren bellowed out.
“Aye, I’m right here in the hallway.” Juniper grimaced as she leaned her head in.
“Maybe get yourfriendhere some curtains, huh?” She winked.
Why would Wren say it like that?
“Do you have a lease?” Wren asked as she paced the empty room and opened the closet door to check for space.
“It’s month to month.”
“Oh, interesting,” Wren hummed, circulating back to the door.
