“Soon, Ethan.” She ran her hand over his honey-colored mop of hair and smiled.
“Good, because I don’t want to live with Dad,” the boy said. “He likes Jonah better than me.”
“That’s not true,” Amy said, but the taller kid said, “I kinda think it is. Who wouldn’t? Mom, can I have fifty bucks?”
Amy smiled up at the giant boy. “Hello, Jonah. Maybe we start with a greeting before you start asking for money.”
“Sorry. Hello. Can I have fifty bucks?”
But Amy wasn’t listening. She was leaning to one side to look around her son. “Hold on—your grandma is trying to do something and she’s got it wrong.”
“How do I have it wrong?” Barb demanded.
Amy let go of her younger son and stepped forward. “The sign is upside down, Mom. June, bring your side over here, and, Melissa, if you could help them turn it over? And, Carol—trade places with Mom.”
The women did as Amy asked, then looked down at the sign. “That’s better,” Amy’s dad said.
“I just need fifty for this cool new game,” her older son said. “I’ve saved the rest from my allowance.”
But Amy put her hand on his chest. She was frowning at the sign. It saidWe’re Sorry Amyand had been decorated with Christmas trees and candy canes. In one corner, there looked to be a failed attempt at a pair of ice skates.
“Why does that sign say that?” Amy asked. “Sorry for what?”
“For invading your space,” Barb said. She glanced at the rest of the Posse. “We should have let you have it. We should have let you be the person you needed to be these last several days. So you could pursue your dreams.”
Amy stared at her mother, her expression full shock. “Are you…are youapologizing?”
“Well, obviously,” Barb said. “Look at the sign.”
Amy blinked. She turned to look at Harrison. “Did you have something to do with this?”
How on earth had she guessed that? “I, ah…I guess a little? We, ummm…talked about it.” He hadn’t meant it to be a production. But when he’d stopped by this week to grab a few things, the ladies had assailed him, wanting to know why Amy couldn’t wait to escape them. So he’d told them. He’d said simply that she was still a person of dreams and aspirations, and she had this chance, and it wasn’t supposed to be a family affair. That dreams and aspirations rarely are. When June asked him what they should have done, having been offered the use of the same house, Harrison said they ought to have given her a little room. “She was here first,” he’d said.
“Oh my God,” Barb had said, and had clapped her forehead into her palm. “I’m so stupid. I should have realized.”
He had thought at the time it was terribly ironic that she could hear that from him, but not when her own daughter had said it repeatedly. Now, she said, “We’re really sorry we didn’t understand how important this time was for you, honey.”
“I did,” her ex piped up. “I understood.”
“And you’ll get your father-of-the-year trophy later,” June said.
“I understood, Mom,” said Jonah. “Should I go get your purse?”
“Not now, Jonah,” Amy said kindly.
“Mom, who is he?” the younger one asked, and pointed to Harrison.
“I’d like to know the same,” her ex said.
“Everyone,” Amy said firmly. “This is Harrison Neely. Okay? Harrison, my family, most of whom you’ve met. My sons, Ethan and Jonah. My ex-husband, Ryan. Now can we get back to me trying to understand what’s going on here?”
“We’re apologizing,” Barb said again. “We are admitting you were right. I hope you accept it.”
Amy looked so stunned that Harrison felt he had to intervene. “Amy,” he said, and took her by the elbow, drawing her aside. “You’re lucky you have them, you know.”
“Who, exactly?”
“Your family.”
