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“Hi!”

The small voice at my side belonged to the cutest little girl with a mop of brown curls and the bluest eyes I had ever seen.

“I’m Charlie. Can Dani play with us?”

Behind Charlie stood two other girls about the same age. That must be Chrissy and Tabby. Dante had talked about them.

“This is all pretty overwhelming. Maybe we should give Dani time to adjust,” I told the little girl.

“Melissa.” Haizley laid her hand on my arm, and I knew what she was going to say. “They know Dani. And they won’t leave the room.”

“Haizley—”

“You’re projecting. Look at the smile on Dani’s face.”

When I looked down, I saw Haizley was right. Dani was smiling at the little girls and I saw her looking at the toys.

“I thought we agreed not to shrink each other?” I said, smiling at my friend.

“Do you want to play with the girls, Dani?”

Dani nodded and moved her little fist up and down, indicating her answer.

“Use your words, Dani.”

“Yes,” she whispered. Dani tried to avoid using words; the sign language being easier to communicate. But I was determined she would learn.

Setting her on the floor, she ran off with the girls. When the big dog that had been laying on the floor jumped up and followed, I moved to stand.

Haizley grabbed my arm. “She’ll be ok.”

“She’s afraid of animals.”

“Watch,” Haizley said, not letting me go.

The dog laid on the floor about four feet from where the girls were playing. With his head nestled between his paws, he watched them. Anytime a brother got close, the dog would lift his head and growl deeply.

“Why is he growling?”

“He is protecting them,” the dark-haired woman on the couch said. I hadn’t gotten her name yet. “I’m Aspen. Diesel is my dog. And amazing with the kids. Why don’t you sit over here, and you won’t hurt your neck while you watch them.”

She scooted over, making room next to her where I had an unobstructed view of the girls.

“Thank you,” I said as I moved over next to Aspen.

“You’re very protective of her,” Sam said.

“I’m all she has,” I answered absently.

“She has her fathers,” Ellie countered.

Turning to the woman I really wanted to be objective with, I asked, “Does she? Where are they? How much time did they spend with her before they left? How much time have you spent with her?”

“Melissa, that’s not fair.”

“No, Haizley, I want to know. How much time have you spent with Dani?” When she didn’t answer, I did. “Days, right? Danny spent two weeks with his daughter before he left. Dante was more, but only by a few weeks. You know who has been in that little girl’s life the longest? Me!” I slapped my hand on my chest to emphasize my point. “I have seen that little girl every day for almost three months. The last seven weeks of that have been just her and me.”

I stood up. I couldn’t sit there any longer. I refused to let someone make excuses for Danny and Dante.