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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