Family Night in Fragments of Life

The four of us considered ourselves a family. We didn’t share each other’s partners, of course, but we really were like one big happy family. We lived together and we traveled together. The thought of only one couple traveling wasn’t nearly as fun as both couples, and since there’s often safety in numbers, we felt safer traveling as a group. But sometimes Michelle or Angela would be called away on a case and the others couldn’t come along. Their work frequently meant going out of town, and sometimes out of state and even out of the country. If they got called away at the same time, but one couldn’t take their partner, they went with the one that could take them and their partner, as was the case in Kodiak.

Every Saturday night we made a point of having “family” night. This meant hanging out together, enjoying movies, junk food, and having a slumber party downstairs. We all crashed together on a couple of air beds laid out side-by-side.

I cherished those nights, especially in the colder weather. When it was cold, we felt like we had each other for warmth, as funny as that may sound.

I remember when I’d run upstairs to use the bathroom when the downstairs one was in use how oddly removed I’d feel from the rest of the group, even though they couldn’t have been more than 30 feet away. That’s how close I felt to the others. Never spent a single day or night away from them except for when I’d be stuck in the hospital at which time it would feel so strange being with nothing but strangers. I would miss my little family but take consolation in knowing they would be by to visit and that it was just a temporary situation I was in. I would be home soon where I belonged and had always felt welcomed and accepted without question or hesitation.

Our little slumber parties were great times filled with great food, great company, and great conversation. Michelle and Angela would usually stay up a little later than Jamie and I chatting away, sometimes about their cases but mostly about whatever. Jamie and I would fall asleep to the sound of their voices as we lied sandwiched between the two of them, all snuggled up feeling cozy, safe, warm and definitely loved.