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“For what it’s worth, Miles wanted to tell you sooner.”
“You did?” Noah says.
I’m reluctant to admit this, feeling as if I’m dropping the blame on Layla.
“I just don’t understand how you can be so sure,” Elena says after a pause. “Surely you can see that it’s strange and that people will judge. Your children will have a difficult life.”
“Why?” Layla snaps. “If you’re shocked and angry, I get that, but you don’t know what sort of life our children will have. It’s not illegal to marry your step-uncle. They’ll be normal babies. Nothing to worry about there. Miles and I arenotrelated.”
“This conversation is making me tired. No, it’s making me sick!”
Elena pushes away from the table, standing quickly.
“I don’t want to talk about this right now.”
“We have to, Mom. We need to know if—”
“If what? I approve?”
Layla nods slowly, and Elena stares at her, her eyes watering and her lips trembling.
“You can’t expect a decision right now after you’ve just dropped it on me. You can’t expect me to accept thisinstantly, can you?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then give me time.” She turns away. “Maybe find a place to stay for a few days while I think things over.”
“Mom—”
“You heard me. Both of you.”
She almost runs inside, striding quickly, slamming the door behind her.
Noah winces. “I’ll talk to her.”
“What about you?” I ask. “Aren’t you pissed?”
Noah lays his hand on my shoulder. “Remember the Christmas when the window broke?”
My memory swallows me. Noah and I lay on our floor mattresses on opposite ends of the room with the icy winter chill fluttering the curtain as both of us shivered, teeth chattering, and Dad and his friends partied downstairs. Eventually, he climbed into bed with me, my baby brother, and we held each other, sharing the warmth.
“I talked about having a family one day,” he says. “I’m hoping it will still happen. Elena and I, we’re…”
“You are?” Layla says.
Noah glances at the house. “Don’t mention I said anything. It’s early days. We’re looking at options. There are obvious concerns.”
I can tell he doesn’t want to mention Elena’s age or imply anything is wrong with her.
“Do you remember what you said?”
“I couldn’t imagine having a family. I couldn’t imagine bringing children into the world. It scared me I’d become like Dad and be as much a monster as he was. I worried about hurting or scarring them.”
“But you don’t feel that way anymore,” Noah says, making it a statement rather than a question. “Sure, it’s a shock when you talked about wanting a family with Layla, and maybe that’s an understatement, but you soundedcertain, bro. There’s something else… something I’ve always wanted for you.”
I wait, and he finishes. “You sounded hopeful and ready for the future.”
Reaching across the table, I take Layla’s hand. I can’t resist it any longer, feeling her pain and uncertainty radiating from her without being able to offer any comfort. She holds me tightly.
