Mila sticks her tongue out at her sister. Thank goodness she finished chewing her pasta. “Nerd.”
Penelope shrugs. “Knowing about the world and the plight of others does not make me a nerd.” She turns to Gage. “Do you donate your time and money?”
“Penelope,” I warn. “Don’t be rude.”
Gage pats my hand. “It’s fine. I donate to the Miracle Foundation.”
“What’s Miracle Foundation?” Mila asks.
“It’s a charity that works with orphans to provide them food, shelter, and education.”
Penelope studies Gage. “Why orphans?”
“Conversation over,” I declare. She has no idea she’s hit on a sensitive subject.
“It’s okay, songbird. I don’t mind talking about it.”
“You don’t?” I purse my lips. “No one knows about your past.”
He kisses my forehead. “This is your family. They have a right to know.” He clears his throat and addresses Penelope. “I grew up in care. I didn’t have a family.”
“No Mom and Dad?” Mila asks.
Gage shakes his head.
“We don’t have a dad but we have a mom and we have Addy.”
“You’re very lucky to have a loving mom and Addy for a big sister.”
Mila’s little nose wrinkles. “Some of the kids at school make fun of me because I don’t have a dad.”
Otis growls. “Who makes fun of you?”
Gage holds up a finger. “Hold on, Otis. What do you do when the kids make fun of you?”
Mila shrugs. “I tell them they’re jealous. It’s what Addy told me to say.”
It’s not exactly what I told her but as long as she walks away, I’m fine with it. Knowing Mila she could go one of two ways. Walk away with her nose in the air or punch the kid in the stomach.
Mom stands. “I’ll get the cake.”
I follow her. When I reach the kitchen, she’s standing with her head bowed. I wrap an arm around her waist.
“It’s not your fault.”
“Yes, Addy, it is my fault those children don’t have fathers. I could have chosen better. I should have chosen better. But when your dad left…” She trails off.
It’s been twenty-seven years since my dad left, but she still finds it difficult to discuss him. It hurts. I want to know more about him. I want to know why he left us – me. But I can’t cause Mom more pain than she’s already in.
“Today is Mila’s birthday. Let’s enjoy her birthday and we can discuss this later.”
It’s a cop out but Mila doesn’t deserve for Mom to sink into guilt. Not today.
Mom straightens her shoulders. “For Mila.”
I nod. “For Mila.”
I help her light the candles on the cake and she carries it to the table.
