Gaia watched her mother. She was heavily pregnant now and her new maternity work uniform already barely fit.
“But why would you have another one?” she asked her spoon.
Fae looked at her and decided not to answer the question. It had been a spur of the moment decision. An accident, really. Not that her and Jameson couldn’t afford it – their careers were right on track and everything was going well. But they already had two teenage daughters. A late addition to the family was sure to only add complications. As it was, she barely spent any time with him. Her work as a mixologist was grueling and her night shifts weren’t exactly great for family live.
Yes, she earned good money. But what was the use of that when she could hardly see the people that mattered the most to her?
That was another reason she didn’t want to spell out for her eldest daughter.
We wanted a third child so we could reconnect.
Instead, she talked about the weather.
“Don’t you have homework?” Her father intervened.
Fae glanced at him gratefully. “Where’s your sister?”
“I don’t know. In her room, I guess. Playing that stupid guitar.”
“Can you call her for me, sweetheart?”
“GALA!!”
“If I wanted a shout, I could have done that myself.”
“Whatever,” Gaia said and went downstairs.
Gala, her younger sister, was practicing inside her bedroom. Determined to embarrass her, Gaia went inside and sat on her bed while she did her homework.
Finally, it was time for school.