We pull into a long, dirt driveway, winding past fields being harvested by farm hands throughout. The path leads to an old farmhouse, two stories, surrounded by overgrown trees.
“She needs some TLC, but she’s home. Or, well, was.” Iris puts on a brave face, but I see the tension she poorly hides.
“What’s TLC?” Olive asks.
“Tender, loving, care, kiddo,” I answer.
“Huh,” she says, pensive before saying, “CIRL?”
“What?” I fight a smile.
“I made words short too,” she says, feeling pretty damn proud of herself.
Iris breaks into laughter, turning in her seat to face my daughter. “Good one,” she smirks.
“What am I missing?” I ask, pulling up to the house.
“Can she ride Lilac?” Iris grins.
My brows furrow as I work that in my head. “Ah. Okay. I see. Cute,” I playfully narrow my eyes at my daughter through the mirror.
Her mischievous giggle is a balm to my sometimes weary soul.
Olive holds both of our hands, swinging them as we head toward the front door. Iris doesn’t unlock it, just opens it.
Yeah, we’re gonna have to talk about that. She needs to be locking that door.
She laughs at my daughter’s attempt to impersonate Mrs. Harriet when my gut tells me to look up.
Iris notices my pause and looks into the hallway. The smile bleeds to shock at the woman who was going to be my wife, standing wide-eyed.
“Rav?” she breaths out. “What…where the hell have you been?” she cries out, rushing over to hug her older sister.
“Who are you?”
“Olive.” I get her attention and shake my head.
Raven pulls away, not paying attention to the countless questions firing out of Iris. Her eyes are locked on Olive and me.
“What’s he doing here, Iris?” she asks.
Iris’s head jerks, taken aback by the shift in energy. The walls buzz with tension and curiosity.
Iris looks back at us. “Um…okay. Wow. There’s a lot to go over.”
Raven leans in and asks again quietly, but not quiet enough. “What is the man I was supposed to marry doing here? And with his kid?”
Olive releases my hand and stakes her claim. She determinedly marches and stands beside Iris, taking her hand. “Iris is my best friend and family. Who are you?”
Coming unglued from the foyer, I approach, keeping close to the two most important girls in my life now.
“Iris…tell me you didn’t.” Raven’s brown eyes widen at her sister.
Iris sighs. “Rav, how about we all sit in the living room. I can make us tea.” She kneels beside Olive. “Hey kiddo, would you like to play in my old room while your Daddy, my big sister and I chat adult things?”
Olive assesses Raven. “She’s your sister?”
“Yup. She’s been away for a while. I want to catch up with her.”
