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“That’s a good self-care activity.” Tori nodded to the empty room, her voice tight.

“It’s the first time I’ve had one since I’ve had Rebel.”

“Why’s that?” Tori closed her eyes and bit back a groan. Why was she slipping into work mode? Especially now of all times.

“It’s been hard. Rebel still sleeps on me several nights a week, and even when she doesn’t, I’m usually too busy to worry about taking the time.”

“I’m glad you’re taking the time for this now.”

Silence lingered for a moment over the phone line, and Tori’s feet wriggled on the couch.

“So, did you want to talk about why this week’s been so rough?”

“Rebel’s been home with an infection.”

“Oh no. Is she okay?” Tori sat up a little straighter, tension stiffening her back.

“She’s mostly better now. It’s just been hard juggling work. And my parents.”

“You could have called me. I could have helped.”

“It’s not your responsibility,” Miranda snapped. Another beat of silence crackled over the line. Miranda sighed heavily.

Tori’s stomach twisted at the tension she heard in the quiet. She wished she could see Miranda’s face, understand better what she was thinking and feeling. Her heart broke for her. Tori bit her lip and stayed silent, however, not sure where to begin that part of the conversation.

Miranda started again, softer this time, “I didn’t want to bother anyone. She’s my responsibility, and my parents need to realize she’s theirs as well. And I still haven’t heard from Tierney. I don’t know what to do about custody.”

“Have your parents heard from her?” Tori wanted more than anything to wrap Miranda up in a hug and relieve the tension she imagined was in those perfect strong shoulders.

“They haven’t.”

“Are they worried?”

“No.” Miranda scoffed. “Of course not. They are all about Tierney finding the right husband to help her raise Rebel. They also just brush it off as Oh, that’s our baby!”

Tori could almost hear the eye roll in Miranda’s voice.

Settling back into the couch, Tori tried to find that calm ground she’d had when she made the call in the first place. This was the Miranda she had gotten to know, the one who cared so much about her niece, about her family, even when it seemed all they did was put everything on Miranda’s shoulders. And yet there was so much more to her than that. Tori played with the edge of her shirt as nerves worked into her belly.

“Rebel is so lucky to have you.” Tori smiled and nestled farther into the couch. It had been a bad week, that was all.

“I don’t know if I’m enough.”

“We all think that. Remember what Bon Jovi says.”

“Living on a prayer?” Miranda’s words were delivered so deadpan that Tori burst out laughing, feeling the last of the tension between them sizzling away.

“No man is an island.” Tori half-sang, half-laughed down the phone line.

“That’s why I need my parents to start helping out more.”

“And what about friends?”

“None of my friends have kids.” Miranda’s words were crisp once more.

“I do.”

“Yes, you do,” Miranda said.