is at your parents. You were probably working or doing
something with your own time. I know it must be really hard
to be a single mom.”
Adley’s face blanks. It becomes totally expressionless,
which is startling, because it’s normally so warm. “Oh. Shoot.
I guess I didn’t tell you. I’m sorry, I can see how you’d see it
like that. Tildy isn’t my daughter. She’s my sister’s daughter.
My niece.”
“Oh!”
“Don’t feel bad,” Adley assures me. She sets her cup
back on the coffee table and angles in; all her regular warmth
and openness coming back. “Sorry. I guess I never said that.
My sister is going through a rough time. She’s getting
divorced, and while they both know it’s the right thing to do,
they’re dealing with a lot. They couldn’t afford the daycare
Tildy was going to right now with having to sell the house and
move into different places and get everything sorted out
legally and otherwise. I agreed to watch Tildy for them so they
could get settled and get everything taken care of. My mom
and dad were in Europe before, they’re home now, so they’re
watching Tildy so that I can get my work done. Mandy is just
about ready to take her back and John is almost finished
moving into his place. They’re going to share custody.”
“Wow. I had no idea. I thought maybe you were a little
bit young to have a daughter that age, but that sounds
judgemental. I don’t mean it that way!”
“I know.” Adley laughs. “I get it. All of it.” Her lips
move, as though trying to pick just the right thing to say, until
finally she just decides to go for it. “I really do get it. I mean
everything. I really have been there. Literally.” She laughs