Chapter Text
The early morning sun beamed through the crack in the blinds and on to Therese’s face. She groaned and rolled over to meet Carol’s naked back. She let her face rest against the warm skin while her arm draped over her middle.
The blonde hair was tickling her face, much longer than ever before. She shifted a little, trying to move it away without moving her arms.
“Darling, if you don’t stop wiggling, you’re moving to the couch.” She heard Carol say above her.
“Your hair is too long.” Therese pouted, squeezed Carol’s waist tighter, and wiggled some more.
“Okay, I’m awake.” Carol stood up and made her way to the bathroom.
She stood at the counter and brushed her teeth only to be joined by her wife a minute later. They made their way into the shower together and slowly bathed alongside each other.
“Are you ready for today?” Therese asked as she was leaning down to shave her legs. It was summer in New York and way too hot for anything other than shorts.
Carol let out a breath, “Not really. I know Rindy is going to college, but I just don’t want her to leave.” She chuckled a little. “Even if it is only across town.”
“I get it. I don’t want her to leave either. It’s going to be weird not having her down the hall every day.”
Rindy had been staying with Carol and Therese all summer as Harge and Susan took a trip to Europe for two months.
They made eye contact once more before leaving the shower.
“NYU, here she comes.” Carol said after giving Therese a chaste kiss which caused her dimples to come to life.
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“Nerinda, you do not need this much stuff! Our house is 10 minutes away.” Carol said angrily as she threw a box down on the small dorm room bed.
“I know, but I don’t want to have to come home every time I want a certain sweater.” Rindy rolled her eyes.
“Have you met your roommate yet, kid?” Therese asked.
“No, but I know we went to the same school. Maybe I know her!”
Just then, Jessica, Rindy’s ex-girlfriend walked in. Everyone froze. Rindy and Jessica broke up not long after Carol and Therese’s wedding. Jessica said she could never marry a woman and she got scared because her and Rindy were getting more serious. It absolutely broke Rindy. She cried on the couch for weeks.
“Absolutely not.” Rindy said before storming out of the room and marching straight to the RA’s room to request a transfer.
“Hello, Jessica. How are you?” Carol said, in an effort to be nice even though her blood was boiling.
“Fine, thanks Carol. How are you two?”
“I wouldn’t unpack just yet. I’m pretty sure Rindy is requesting a new roommate right this second.” Therese said with an emotionless face.
Jessica walked out with her head hung low.
When Rindy returned she was burning with anger. “They won’t switch her! They refused to give me another roommate. They said everything was set in stone and I can’t do a damned thing about it!! What am I going to do living in the same room as her for an entire year?!”
Tears were threatening to flow from her eyes when Carol pulled her into a tight hug. “It’s going to be alright, sweetheart. I promise. You’re going to be so busy with schoolwork, you may not even be in here that often. Just…I don’t know, study in the library instead of your room. And spend your free time hanging out with the new friends you’re going to make!”
Carol locked eyes with Therese and the brunette was immediately able to tell what she was trying to say with the look. They had been looking at houses and were going to put an offer on one in about a week. Carol’s eyes said she didn’t want to move because Rindy needed a safe and familiar space to escape to. She nodded her head and Carol squeezed her daughter tighter.
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They got Rindy as settled as they could before heading back home and retiring to the couch.
“I’m sorry, baby. I know we were this close to moving but I just can’t do that to her. I can’t take away her safe space when she’s having to live with her ex. Plus, Harge is at least half an hour away with no traffic. I want her to be able to come here in the middle of the night if she needs to.”
“Carol, stop. I completely understand. I don’t want to do that to her either. I think I can slum it here with you for another year or two.” She winked at her wife.
“Do you know how much I love you?” Carol said as she pushed the younger woman down on the couch.
“No, I think you need to remind me.” Therese challenged, pulling Carol even closer.