“Right.” He flicked a glance at Pixie. “I was hoping you’d feel that way, too. She could usemorefamily. Besides me, I mean.”
“Brogan …”
“I sprang it on you. I get it.” He stood. “Connie had no one, not even her brother. I don’t want that to happen to Shayna.”
When the baby gave a sudden wail, Andy jumped. “Oh, oh!” He scrambled down and ran back to her. “Baby cryin’!”
Pixie called after him, saying, “Andy, slow down.” She half-stood. “You have to go easy!”
“I’ve got it.” Brogan took two big steps and scooped Andy up before he landed on Shayna. “She screams really loud, doesn’t she, bud?” He seated himself on the floor, situated Andy beside him, and scooped up Shayna to comfort her.
Shayna’s little bottom lip stuck out, and she gave another cry, followed by a shuddering breath, making Andy fret. He looked ready to cry, too, until Brogan reached out to him.
Pixie sat there on the couch trying to mesh the new info with the image of Brogan and the kids. In no time, he had them both settled down, entertaining them with the stuffed lamb.
Shayna is Andy’s half sister.
No, she immediately told herself. She would never differentiate like that. Siblings shouldn’t be divided by halves or steps. They should just be siblings. Did she have it in her to keep them together? How could she not?
If it was true, and she had no reason to doubt it, then Brogan’s hesitation in leveling with her made sense. Of course, he’d want to get to know her first. All of his life he’d been shortchanged, even abused, by the “family” who should have loved him. Being related didn’t guarantee that someone was a good person who would treat others fairly, with respect and affection.
Where did that leave them all, though?
He was only supposed to be here until the end of summer. Already, the thought of his leaving left her aching. And to take Shayna away when she should have the right to know Andy?
Brogan started a silly story, which included the lamb talking and dancing. Andy scrambled for his own spot on Brogan’s lap.
“Ah, I see you have this all figured out, huh?” Effortlessly, Brogan arranged Shayna into one arm, giving Andy room; then he scooted around so he could rest his back against the wall. Holding the lamb in one hand, he said, “Now we’re all comfortable, right?”
“My baby.”
“You’re like a broken record, bud.” He glanced at Pixie, and despite the guarded smile on his mouth, she detected a wealth of sadness in his eyes.
Pixie knew what he was doing: He was giving her time to get pissed off, and get over it, or at least come to grips with his stunning revelation.
All this time, he’d known the truth. Shayna wasn’t related to her, but as Andy’s half sister, it was almost the same.
Except … Ruthie hadn’t felt that way at all. She’d deliberately ostracized Brogan, not only from his father, but his sister, too. It was easy to understand why the children’s connection mattered to Brogan. After knowing so many awful people, he wanted Shayna’s life to include more.
More family.
More support.
More love.
To reassure Brogan, she said, “While you three play, I’ll look over these papers. But, Brogan?”
His gaze met hers again.
“Let me know if you need any help.”
After watching her a moment or two longer, he released a tight breath. “No worries. We’re fine.” He got back to his silly story, even including a funny voice for the lamb. Andy loved it. Shayna kept busy blowing spit bubbles.
Pixie arranged the papers over the table, then picked up a few to skim them. Much of it was Connie explaining that she understood why Brogan had stayed away. Her parents had told her some of the things they’d said to him, heartbreaking thingsthat no son should ever hear. Things that ripped at Pixie’s heart as she read them:
You’re not a part of this family, so don’t try to be.
All you’ll do is complicate things.
