Page 7 of Between the Lines

Nineteen thousand dollars.

I shouldn’t care—it’s none of my business. Is this the reason she was late?

Fia’s a smart girl. I hope she did her research and realizes they are ripping her off simply because she’s a young single woman.

She’s got to know that, right?

I stare at that paper way too long.

3

Fia

The big paddle fans provide a nice break from the muggy air as I step onto the covered porch. Luanne’s gray-streaked hair sits in a bun on top of her head due to the heat. Daisy bounces on Luanne’s legs when she sees me, and immediately I sigh to myself—she is in her backup outfit.

Luanne stands from the rocking chair, handing me my little troublemaker. “I’m so sorry. We had a little lunchtime accident today, and I had to change her . . .”

“No problem.” I reach for the diaper bag. “It’s laundry day anyway!”

Because every day is laundry day with a toddler.

Luanne’s pensive eyes don’t stop tracking me as I place Daisy into her stroller. Luckily my toddler doesn’t fight me on it—I have no energy for that today.

“Here you go, honey. I made pasta salad today. Should be enough for tomorrow’s lunch too!” She hands me a glass casserole dish, and I slide it under the stroller. At least twice a week she sends me home with dinner, delicious baked goods, or a new outfit she picked up for my daughter.

My throat tightens. “Thank you.” I smile at her, avoiding eye contact.

“How’s work going?” She crosses her arms. “They working you too much, honey?”

Luanne always knows when something is off with me.

I choke back a sarcastic laugh. Even if I wanted to take a day off, it’s not like I could afford to. Actually, I should probably ask for more hours . . .

I force a smile. “Oh, it’s good, just very busy. You know the summers, all the tourists.” I roll my eyes, pushing my long bangs off my face, and sigh.

Any other day, I’d stay and chat, accepting an iced glass of sweet tea. Luanne’s a good listener, but today, I just want to go and cry in the privacy of my own home.

She waves sweetly at Daisy, who grins from her stroller, perched on the edge like we’re about to go on a big adventure. “Okay, sweetie, well you two have a good evening, and I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Who knows, we may be returning to our very own water park.

As we walk a few blocks home through one of Wilmington’s historic neighborhoods—full of stately Victorians and turn-of-the-century cottages—I peer up at the blue sky and sunshine, two things that usually make me happy. Even with fair skin and red hair, I’ve always loved the sun . . . more than it loves me.

“See the cardinal?” I point to the red bird in the tree, but Daisy doesn’t look up. She’s already sticky with sweat.

The moment we round the corner and I see our home, my stomach sinks. It’s not lost on me how fortunate I am to have a whole big house to myself, but like my sister, Penny, loves to remind me, great things come with great responsibility.

She’s honestly become like an overlord since being promoted to Auntie Penny.

My phone rings.

It’s my sister’s face on the screen, smiling in fresh lip gloss.

“Speak of the devil,” I mutter as I push the stroller up the bumpy stone path through the front yard, stopping at the base of the porch steps. “It’s your auntie,” I tell Daisy, who’s attempting to pull her bow out of her hair, turning pink with frustration.

I accept Penny’s call, knowing if I don’t, she’ll just call back. I pull Daisy out of the stroller and walk towards the front door.

“Hey! I wanted to see if you had plans this weekend.” My sister jumps right to the chase as I nudge open the door with my shoulder and set Daisy down in the foyer. She starts crawling at the speed of light towards Hamburger.