eyes and a killer smile. The guy
who came to Grandfather’s door
looked like a derelict. I clung
to Aunt Cora’s skirt as if I were
sewn to the hem. It was a safe
place I knew all too well.
Hey, sis! Trey planted a big
not-brotherly kiss on her lips.
Then he spotted me. Autumn?
His voice held need, and his
eyes were steel. Come to Daddy.
Daddy? No. I didn’t have one
of those. A big ol’ twister
started up in my gut. I backed
behind Aunt Cora, burrowed
deeper. Trey reached for me.
“Noooo!” I screamed, and
turned to run. But not quick
enough. Bark-rough hands
clamped around my waist.
“Please don’t hurt me.”
Here now, soothed Trey.
I would never hurt my little
girl. He petted me as he might
a nervous pup, but that did little
to quell the tornado inside me.
SOMEHOW HE DIDN’T GET
That, despite his probable
relationship to me,
I wasn’t his little girl.