“You can’t have Collette. You can’t take her in the middle of the night. She picked me. You had no right,” I said. Maybe yelled.
Joey was pale with dark circles under her eyes. Her hair was limp and greasy. She looked as though she hadn’t slept either.
“Did you think you’d just show up here and take her? Was that your big plan, Frowny Frankie? You’re not her mother. You have no rights.”
“Joey. Iamher family. These people are not. Let me have her. And I will go. We can go our own ways.”
“Fuck no. Are you crazy? I’m not losing this money,” she growled.
“You told me you love her. Let her be with me and George.”
“You think that’s best? You’re just like me. You’re an unloveable mess who doesn’t know how to mother. And you think I don’t see what is happening to George? You think anybody would give him custody?”
I took a breath in and out to settle myself, shaking my head as the realization hit. “You hate me so much, don’t you?” I balled my fists. “You blame me for everything that happened with our mom. I don’t know why I took so long to see it.” I lifted my gaze and held hers. She glared back at me, shoulders heaving, a tiny muscle above her mouth twitching. “I always thought we were this unit. That we shared an unbreakable bond. But you genuinely hate me.” My voice broke as I realized just how true it was.
“You ruined everything.” Her hands slashed out. “We were perfect until you came around. You made it too much for me. You demanded all her attention, and you drove her away.”
“She was sick,” I said sadly.
“She would have pulled herself together.”
I looked at my sister in a different light then. Somehow, I’d held a different image of her for so long that I was unable to see the truth. She was a stranger who hated me and didn’t care who she hurt. Even if it was her own daughter.
“Maybe she would have, I said. But we will never know because she never came back,” I said. “To either of us.”
Her shoulders flinched.
Soft steps approached me from behind, but I didn’t take my focus off my sister. “I’m sorry for everything that happened, but it’s not my fault, Joey. Blame me or don’t. I really don’t care anymore.” I stood up straighter and poured every ounce of vehemence into my words. “I love Collette. She is my daughter. And I’m not letting you sell her just to prove some twisted point. I’m going to protect her and love her like every little girl deserves. Like we deserved.”
Her eyes filled with tears, and I was shocked at the emotion. “You-you have no right.” Her teeth bared as she spoke.
“I’ll find a way,” I said simply. And I knew that I would. If it took throwing every cent and legal battles for the rest of her childhood, I would deal with them so Collette never felt anything but safety and love.
“She’ll never love you like she loves me. I’m her mother, and that’s one thing you’ll never get.”
Maybe before those words would have struck out and hit their intended mark. Now I knew better. Family is created through love and commitment and not always by circumstance of birth. “I hope one day, you’ll realize how wrong you are,” I said calmly.
“That’s enough,” a voice came from behind me as fingers laced through mine.
“Harrison?” I sucked in a breath and turned to find him coming to my side.
Not just Harrison.
Behind us, just a few feet away, were Emma and Charlie holding George, along with Kate and Wesley. All of them here.
“Wh-what are you doing here?” I asked.
“We’re here for you,” he said.
My chin trembled as I smiled at him. Immense relief at having him here filled me. I would do this alone if I had to. But I didn’t have to.
The front door opened to reveal three kids, curious about the scene unfolding on their doorstep. The parents tried to corral them back and into the house, but they were greatly outnumbered. The children poured onto the porch, staring with eyes wide and mouths parted as they looked at all of us. The older kids looked shocked at Emma, Wesley, and Harrison. Understandably.
“Oh my—” the mother started.
“Joey, Collette is coming with us. You lost your privileges to be her mother,” I said. “This child is not available for sale or whatever it is that you want with her,” I said, not hiding my disgust as I spoke to the mother.
Harrison squeezed my hand harder. He gave me a nod, but his features were more serious than I’d ever seen as they glared down at Joey.
