“Self-expression,” Poppy said, likely repeating a phrase that was one hundred percent Teagan.
Then the toddler raced into the house, her hands out like Superman. Her mirror image followed—her hands dug firmly into her hips, lips pursed as if suffering from chronic constipation.
“You know how I feel about answering a question with another question,” Teagan said and—huh—her sister suffered from the same affliction.
“I’m here for a long weekend,” she said, which wasn’t a complete lie. It had started out as a long weekend—that had been three weeks ago. “And you?”
Teagan stepped back and, with a sweeping gesture that encompassed the big trailer in the drive, said, “We’re moving in.”
“Moving in? Here? Like permanently?” This did not bode well for Harley’s grand plan to get her shit together. “Why?”
“It’s my house and if you’d returned even one of my calls, you’d know the answer.”
Not wanting to touchthatwith a yardstick, Harley turned her attention to her nieces—who were still naked. Pigtails askew and cheesy goo on her cheek, Poppy marched with a stick in hand; Lily followed as if they were the stars in their own parade.
“You been reading themLord of the Flies?”
“Just Peppa Pig,” Poppy announced.
“You talk?” she asked Lily.
They both stopped, faces grim. “Families stick together and embrace each other’s differences,” Poppy explained.
Teagan sighed. “It’s just been a long trip.”
Harley eyeballed her sister and froze. What the actual fuck was happening? Her perfect sister, who always dressed as if she were brunching at the White House, looked as if brunch had exploded all over her. Her usual soft waves were more corkscrews than curls, her makeup consisted of grape-juice-stained lips, her jeans had tiny cheesy goo handprints on them, and she smelled like—
Harley took a huge step back. “Is that vomit?”
“Maybe,” Teagan said. “Probably. Oh, and it’s mixed with dog drool.”
“That was a dog? You hate dogs.” Harley shook her head in disbelief. “Who are you and what have you done with my sister?”
Poppy stopped marching. “Who are you?” she asked like the Cheshire cat.
“Auntie Harley,” she said, wondering how long it had been since her last visit. Wow, it had been two years ago, when she’d made a huge mistake—committed a wrong she wasn’t sure she could ever right.
“Who’s Auntie Harley?”
“Uh, well . . .”Auntie Harleyvolleyed that question to Mommy Teagan. Only Mommy Teagan volleyed back by simply raising one eyebrow. “That’s me!”
“Yay!” Poppy shouted and both girls jumped up and down in unison. One minute they were spinning with joy; the next they rushed her, sliding all up in her personal space bubble before shrink-wrapping themselves to her legs like little koalas clinging to trees.
Harley froze, stress hives forming down her arms and neck. She didn’t know what to do. Pick them up? Were they too old to be picked up? Maybe hug them and kiss their cheeks? How? They were so squirmy.
Squirmy made her nervous. Made her sweat in uncomfortable places.
Think, Harley. Think. What would a cool aunt do?
“Can we get a high-five? Up high, Popcorn.” Delighted by her nickname, Poppy squealed and jumped high to smack Harley’s hand. “How about you, Lily Bear?”
Crickets.
Harley looked at Teagan, who shrugged, then back to the girls. As if communicating through the ether, Poppy said, “She wants Lily Cakes, so we’re bof snacks.”
“It’s a twin thing,” Teagan explained.
“Right. Up high, Lily Cakes.” She held up her hand and, with a sweet, heart-melting smile, Lily gently slapped palms.
