Page 11 of Friends with Benefits

“When is Mommy coming home?”Molly asked.

How was it that children could be so innocent and so intuitive at the same time?

I decided the best course of action was honesty. The girls knew what our parents were like, and I felt that they didn’t need another adult in their lives who lied to them. Of course, I didn’t know if telling them the truth was the proper course of action, but I was doing my best.

“I don’t know, sugar bean. She…had some plans, and they must have taken longer than she anticipated. But don’t worry, we’ll do something fun today to pass the time.”

Explaining it to them when she didn’t come back tomorrow or the day after or the day after that would be a little more difficult.

Tillie shared a look with her sister. “What about Daddy? He didn’t come home last night either.”

They were too smart for their own good. I knew it, and yet sometimes I took how much they absorbed for granted. Kneeling down, I cupped both of their cheeks.

“Babies, this is one time I won’t have all of the answers for you. Sometimes grownups make mistakes. Sometimes they disappoint you and do the wrong thing. Mommy and Daddy aren’t making very good choices right now, but I don’t want you to worry. No matter what happens, I’ll always be here for you. You know that, right?”

Their eyes watered, and I pulled them close, my heart aching for them.

“Do they not love us anymore?” Molly asked, her voice wobbly. Tillie sniffled in my ear on the other side.

My heart broke into tiny little pieces. No child should ever have a reason to ask such a question. I held them tighter. “Of course they still love you. Who wouldn’t?”

“Then why would they leave us?” Tillie asked. “Were we being bad?”

I would have gladly ripped my parents to shreds as I listened to the twins’ questions and allayed their fears. It had never bothered me how inattentive and downright negligent our parents were when I was growing up. I hadn’t known any different.

“This isn’t about you,” I said firmly. “You haven’t done anything wrong. I don’t want to hear you say that again. You two are perfect. I don’t ever want to hear you thinking it’s your fault again.”

Next time I saw either of my parents, they were going to get an earful. I’d never truly stood up to them before. They somehow always managed to convince me things would change, and nearly a dozen years later, they were the same as they had been when I was the twins’ age. It wasn’t fair to any of us.

Molly pulled back and clutched her sister’s hand. “We’re sorry the lady had to call you in from work. We tried to be brave, but it was so dark, and we kept hearing creepy noises, and we got scared.”

“You don’t have to apologize for calling me, sweetheart. You did the absolute right thing. It’s not safe for you two to be home alone. You don’t worry about work; that’s my job. Now, let’s get you two dressed for the day, get some breakfast, and maybe we’ll go down to the park?”

Their eyes brightened. “Will you push us on the swings?” Molly asked.

“Of course, sweetheart. Now, do you two want pancakes or scrambled eggs?”

* * *

The timeat the park helped us all unwind and take some space from the stress. I’d texted and called both of my parents about a dozen times but without any answer aside from the one hangup from my mom. It was a fruitless endeavor, but, for the first time, I wasn’t sure what to do.

I didn’t want to think about it too directly, but I knew this could be considered child abandonment. Taking custody of the girls had always been at the back of my mind, a seed of doubt I’d never really nurtured. Perhaps it was time to fertilize that seed and put it in some fresh air with a little sunlight. Maybe it would wither and die, but…maybe it would bloom.

It did my heart some good after the stress the night before to see them laughing and playing, seemingly worry-free for now. All I knew was I didn’t want them to grow up like I had—too soon. They deserved to have a childhood, to worry about kid issues—not whether we had electricity or hot water or enough money for groceries. Sometimes I felt like I was failing them because supporting the household wasn’t without struggle but seeing them laugh and smile made it worth it. I was starting to think that maybe having our parents around them did more harm than good.

Taking legal custody of them had always been a terrifyingly permanent solution, one I wasn’t sure I was totally ready for, but maybe it was time. What would happen the next time my parents abandoned them? What if they got hurt, or sick, or—God forbid—died because of their negligence?

I couldn’t bear the thought.

For the time being, I pushed it to the back of my mind. Surely, with some time, my parents would be back, and everything would go back to normal. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it was all I knew.

If they didn’t come back…well, I’d deal with that when the time came.

I had my plate full enough as it was. Work had given me a couple of days to get my bearings, and I’d emailed my professors, who were being lenient. Things would have to eventually go back to normal—whatever that meant.

The girls were settled in front of the TV watchingMulan, which allowed me a moment to rest. It felt like I had been going nonstop ever since I’d gotten the phone call from Lennox. I had my feet propped up on the couch and was considering what I’d make for dinner when I received the first text. My heart spiked for a moment, thinking it could be Chris.

The spike of adrenaline eased somewhat when I saw Tripp’s name. Relieved, I unlocked my phone.