reminded that as soon as she was born her own mother had run away?
And so, like so many times in their lives, since they could not quarrel about the situation, they remained silent. Leaving things unsaid, Sadie had decided a long time ago, helped maintain the delicate balance among them. It kept things safe. Talking meant revealing one’s self, and that meant none of them could keep up the pretext that they accepted their mother’s leaving as just one of those things that happens in life.
“You’ll keep trying.” April issued the statement like a decree from the eldest.
“Either that or—” Hannah plunked the lemon into her glass, then wiped her fingers on the cotton towel by the sink. “I haven’t said anything to you two because it’s not a sure thing by a long shot, but there is another way we might start a family.”
“You’re going to adopt!” April gave voice to what was also Sadie’s best guess for her sister’s plans. “Hannah, that’s wonderful.”
“No, not adoption, not exactly.” She tucked her rich auburn hair behind her ears, not once but three times, in slow, meticulous strokes. Then she wet her lips and fixed her attention on her glass of iced tea. “Payt has a second cousin he hasn’t seen since high school. The two of them spent summers together up until then, so they have a history, a bond.”
The legs of Sadie’s stool wobbled as she shifted her weight forward and asked, “And?”
“His wife died in an automobile accident six years ago. He was driving and suffered severe injuries, as well. He’s never fully recovered, physically or emotionally.”
April hugged her mug to her chest, her head bent. “That’s just awful.”
“It gets worse. This is where Payt and I come in. This second cousin has a child, passed around from one family member to the next and…and now it’s our turn.”
Sadie leaned in farther still. “A child?”
Hannah nodded. “A seven-year-old boy.”
“Seven?” April didn’t cluck her tongue, but she might as well have.
Hannah cast her green-eyed gaze heavenward. “And a boy .”
“Nothing wrong with boys.” Sadie sat back again at last and laughed, thinking of her own son, Ryan, at that age. “Well, nothing wrong that a little patience, love and earplugs won’t help.”
“But what would I do with one?” Hannah said.
Sadie placed her hand on Hannah’s wrist. “Be his mom.”
“That’s the catch. Even though he can no longer care for the boy, this cousin won’t give up his parental rights. I can’t blame him for that, but it puts us in a tentative position at best. He wants us to become foster parents.”
“Fostering a child in so much need, Hannah, I can’t think of anyone better suited to do that than you and Payt.” Again April spoke in such a way that it seemed just her speaking of it made everything indisputable.
“On the one hand it’s ridiculous. Me? Mom to a seven-year-old boy?” She spread her hand over her heart, her delicately painted nails bright against her creamy skin and silk knit top. “Then I stop and think—this is my chance to be the only mother some child has ever known.” Her hushed voice broke. She raised her gaze to first April’s, then Sadie’s. Her hand closed. She sniffled. “That really gets to me, you know?”
They both knew so well, they did not dare try to put it into words.
Hannah’s perfectly plucked eyebrows crimped down. “I really hate it when things get to me.”
“Oh, admit it. You’re just a big softie.” Sadie crinkled her nose up.
Hannah responded silently in kind.
April took another sip of hot tea before asking, “When do you have to decide?”
“We have to take some classes, and we want to be settled in our new house.”
“I like this house.” April made a show of looking around them at the sparsely furnished house in the part of town officially called Furst Heritage Hollows but that everyone jokingly referred to as Debt Valley.
“Payt and I want one
And so, like so many times in their lives, since they could not quarrel about the situation, they remained silent. Leaving things unsaid, Sadie had decided a long time ago, helped maintain the delicate balance among them. It kept things safe. Talking meant revealing one’s self, and that meant none of them could keep up the pretext that they accepted their mother’s leaving as just one of those things that happens in life.
“You’ll keep trying.” April issued the statement like a decree from the eldest.
“Either that or—” Hannah plunked the lemon into her glass, then wiped her fingers on the cotton towel by the sink. “I haven’t said anything to you two because it’s not a sure thing by a long shot, but there is another way we might start a family.”
“You’re going to adopt!” April gave voice to what was also Sadie’s best guess for her sister’s plans. “Hannah, that’s wonderful.”
“No, not adoption, not exactly.” She tucked her rich auburn hair behind her ears, not once but three times, in slow, meticulous strokes. Then she wet her lips and fixed her attention on her glass of iced tea. “Payt has a second cousin he hasn’t seen since high school. The two of them spent summers together up until then, so they have a history, a bond.”
The legs of Sadie’s stool wobbled as she shifted her weight forward and asked, “And?”
“His wife died in an automobile accident six years ago. He was driving and suffered severe injuries, as well. He’s never fully recovered, physically or emotionally.”
April hugged her mug to her chest, her head bent. “That’s just awful.”
“It gets worse. This is where Payt and I come in. This second cousin has a child, passed around from one family member to the next and…and now it’s our turn.”
Sadie leaned in farther still. “A child?”
Hannah nodded. “A seven-year-old boy.”
“Seven?” April didn’t cluck her tongue, but she might as well have.
Hannah cast her green-eyed gaze heavenward. “And a boy .”
“Nothing wrong with boys.” Sadie sat back again at last and laughed, thinking of her own son, Ryan, at that age. “Well, nothing wrong that a little patience, love and earplugs won’t help.”
“But what would I do with one?” Hannah said.
Sadie placed her hand on Hannah’s wrist. “Be his mom.”
“That’s the catch. Even though he can no longer care for the boy, this cousin won’t give up his parental rights. I can’t blame him for that, but it puts us in a tentative position at best. He wants us to become foster parents.”
“Fostering a child in so much need, Hannah, I can’t think of anyone better suited to do that than you and Payt.” Again April spoke in such a way that it seemed just her speaking of it made everything indisputable.
“On the one hand it’s ridiculous. Me? Mom to a seven-year-old boy?” She spread her hand over her heart, her delicately painted nails bright against her creamy skin and silk knit top. “Then I stop and think—this is my chance to be the only mother some child has ever known.” Her hushed voice broke. She raised her gaze to first April’s, then Sadie’s. Her hand closed. She sniffled. “That really gets to me, you know?”
They both knew so well, they did not dare try to put it into words.
Hannah’s perfectly plucked eyebrows crimped down. “I really hate it when things get to me.”
“Oh, admit it. You’re just a big softie.” Sadie crinkled her nose up.
Hannah responded silently in kind.
April took another sip of hot tea before asking, “When do you have to decide?”
“We have to take some classes, and we want to be settled in our new house.”
“I like this house.” April made a show of looking around them at the sparsely furnished house in the part of town officially called Furst Heritage Hollows but that everyone jokingly referred to as Debt Valley.
“Payt and I want one
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