Unsuitable

“I’ll just say it then,” said Etta. She was nervous where Flip was oblivious. If this wasn’t about sitting for Mia, she had no idea where this was going. “We think you should get back with Reece.”

“Get back?”

“Together you know. Hook up,” said Flip.

Etta turned on her. “Not hook up. That’s only temporary. I said let me talk.”

Flip was undaunted. “This was my idea.”

From the doorway Neeva said, “He’s our brother too.”

That flame inside Audrey flared and flickered and burned brighter, hotter. This was Reece’s family come to claim her, even as they were deeply unimpressed with her.

“Why did you break up with him?” said Gin. She stepped around Neeva to come into the room.

“It wasn’t my best decision.”

“That’s not a reason,” said Gin. They were standing and she was surrounded by their indignation and their love for Reece.

She owed them honesty. “I was scared.”

Gin pulled out a kitchen chair and sat. “That’s what Reece said. You had a bad family life and you didn’t trust him.”

That was either a gross simplification or the key that fit. “I—”

“Did he get it wrong?” said Neeva. She stayed by the door. She was the angriest. Did it mean she loved Reece most?

Audrey shook her head. “No.”

“We came to tell you why you can trust him,” Neeva said.

“I see.” She barely got those words out. She’d faced easier negotiations with suppliers who had billions of dollars riding on an outcome.

“We don’t really remember our dad,” said Etta.

“I never met him how could I remember,” said Flip.

Etta shoved her. “Shut it.”

Gin took it up. “Reece was our dad at the same time as he was our brother.”

“He’s a really good brother.” Flip took a step away from Etta. “Don’t look at me like that—he is.”

Etta turned from Flip to look at Audrey again. “What we’re saying is he knows how to be responsible and he knows about doing parent things.”

“He taught me how to manage my asthma,” said Gin.

“He taught me how to deal with bullies,” said Neeva.

Audrey was overwhelmed by them, their passion and their care. “Oh please, stop.”

“He never tells lies about stuff. Even if it makes him uncomfortable, like sluts and wet dreams,” said Flip. She glared at Etta, Neeva and Gin in turn. “Everyone else lies to me.”

“You don’t need to say anymore.” It was enough and it was working a hole in her senses and filling it with a mixture of regret for time lost and hope for a life to be gained.

“He’s sorry about what he was like when he was fighting, you know the illegal stuff, but if he hadn’t known how to do that, you might’ve been hurt,” said Etta.

“Please girls, no more.”