November 6, 2025

1 New Message from: Dad2

"Thanks, Simon. For waking me up." Riley groans, tossing and turning in her bed. She reaches her hand out to her bedside table to grab her phone. Her eyes were only half open until she read the text. The blue-green hazel eyes suddenly widen. "Holy shit!" she gasps, covering her mouth.

The covers on her bed are quickly thrown off so she could begin jumping on her bed. For Riley, hearing that her two favorite dads are going to have a baby is possibly the best news of her life. This means she is getting another half sibling.

"I could have a sister! Finally!" She laughs hysterically. She sends Simon a congratulatory text and video of her jumping up and down in excitement.

He soon replies with laughing emojis and a text that says,

"Wow! ur more excited than us!!"

With all of this excitement built up inside of her she has to tell somebody. Somebody who will also share this excitement with her. What a great way to start the day.

Riley put on some pants before dashing downstairs where she knows her parents would be having breakfast on this lovely Saturday morning. But she approaches the kitchen, her bright smile slowly melts.

Her parents are talking: Aggressively. Nowadays, it seems Josie and Doug are always fighting. Riley is starting to get sick of it. She just wants to have a normal dinner night like they used too. This isn't to say her parents never get along; It just means they fight more often than is healthy in a marriage. They argue about anything.

In this case it's about who's responsible for what. Like starting the dishwasher because nobody did last night.

Riley nervously shuffles in with hopes that the news may brighten their day.

"Would you stop screaming like a mad woman?!"

"I wouldn't have to if you'd open your ears and fucking listen to me! Why is it so hard for you to just do these little things for me? It takes one second to press 'start' on a dishwasher!"

Riley stared for a minute, subjected to their pointless and endless bickering unsure of how to interrupt.

"H-Hey, guys? Mom? Doug?" she attempts to speak up.

"Josie shut up! Our daughter is trying to say something." Doug hisses.

"I know that I can see her standing there! I'm not an idiot like you!" Josie snaps back.

"I am not an idiot! At least I try to give our children the attention they need instead of continuing to nag on other people." Doug slings his arm around Riley bringing her awkwardly closer into the fight. She slips out from under him.

"Oh really?! Because right now - Don't you dare start drinking at ...!"

Their obnoxious voices muddle out as Riley walks away and into the living room instead. Now isn't a good time to deliver the news. Luckily, her younger brother Lucas is on the couch watching cartoons and very available to tell the news.

"Sup, Lucas." She jumps onto the couch. "Wanna hear a secret?" she wiggles her eyebrows.

A stoic look remains on his face as he stares blankly at the TV, the rest of the is world tuned out.

"Lucaaaaaass!" Riley aggressively shakes him back into reality.

"Whaaaaat? I heard you the first time." he softly slaps his sister's hand off of him.

"Then why didn't you answer back?"

"Because... because I am busy!" he says matter-of-factly.

"Doing what? Letting your brain rot in front the TV all day?" Riley bickers.

"Says the one who spends all day in her room watching YouTube." Lucas sticks out his tongue knowing he now has the upper hand.

"You win this one little bro." Riley glares off into the distance. "Anyways, I came here to tell you something."

Just then Josie entered the room.

"Riley," she interrupted. "I apologize for what happened just a moment ago. What was it you wanted to say?" she tilts her head to the side. Riley feels a twitch of anger inside because of her mother's lame excuse of an apology. It was so broad. What part of what happened was she sorry for? Them fighting or them ignoring their own daughter?

"Uhh, I wanted to tell everyone that I woke up to some incredible news! Simon texted me that him and Josh have decided to - drumroll please... have a baby!" Riley excitedly shouts.

"Oh my gosh! That's wonderful!" Josie gleefully claps.

"Whoa really? They can do that?" Lucas looked surprised. He may only be six be he at least a baby comes from a female.

"Yeah, how are they supposed to have a baby?" Doug also joins the party with a half empty bottle in his hand. "They're two guys. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for them but is this gonna work? Like, I mean..." He shrugs his shoulders and makes gestures with eyes that, anyone could see, have a glint of homophobia. "What about maternal instincts?"

"Haven't you ever heard of paternal instincts, Doug?" Josie squints her eyes at him. "I guess not as it seems you don't have any."

"Yes I do. You see me and Lucas have fun together all time. Don't we, Luke?"

"Are you sure you're not faking it?" Josie calls his bluff. Riley could feel a pit forming in her stomach. She looks at her baby brother.

"Come on, Lucas." Riley whispers. "I think it's time to go." She picks him and takes him upstairs so he can watch his favorite shows on her iPad with no interruptions. Riley then sneaks back into her room and pulls out her phone.

To: Dad2

"everybody else here at home is just as happy about the news! Everything is great!"