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The dark-haired woman looked away from Sera and out the window. She hated her name, as all of Sera’s stepdaughters did. They were all named directly after authors: Agatha Christie, Harper Lee, Beatrix Potter, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and her twin, Mabel Lucie Attwell. Though Mabel was named for an illustrator.
When Sera had first walked into their house, Agatha went by Christie, but once she’d left high school, she had left that name behind. While the others were sometimes called by their long names, as they referred to them, Agatha’s was never said. It was taboo to even say it because Agatha never reacted with anger or teasing like the others; she just instantly withdrew within herself. Just like now.
“So, what happens with your baby daddy now?” Agatha didn’t look back at her.
Sera knew that this was not about the investigation but about her telling him about the girls. Because once Kylie told the truth, the investigation was over. Now Sera had to decide to tell Harrison about his daughters or not. Then she had to decide whether start an actual relationship with him or not. One hinged on the other.
“I don’t know. I half want to tell him, but I don’t want to share them. I’ve never had to share my kids.”
“Maybe he doesn’t want to share. Maybe he wants the entire package,” Agatha said the words Sera hadn’t dared to think about.
“No, neither of us are known for their long-term relationships.”
“Except his decade-long marriage, and your decade-long lust for him,” Agatha pointed out.
“I have not lusted after him for a decade,” Sera countered.
“Are you lying to me or to yourself?”
“Shut up.”
“Being with this man may be different, Sera, but it might be a better different. A much better different.”
“What about you guys? I couldn’t ask him to move into the house,” Sera stated. It was her home, the one she had chosen to raise her children in. She couldn’t see herself leaving it.
“I wouldn’t either. But you can leave us, take Emma and Violet, and go. We will have each other, and you will always be our mom.”
“But I would miss you all the time.”
“And Cliff pissing with the door open?”
“Not that.” Sera cringed at the memory, having experienced that one herself more than once.
“Harper waking everyone up at two in the morning with that damn mixer?”
“Maybe that a little.” Though she didn’t complain, it did happen all the time.
“Emma walking in on Buzz and some guy naked in the living room?”
“Maybe I need to move out anyway.” Sera winced. She hadn’t even heard about that, and now she wondered how many times the younger girls had seen something similar. Or, more importantly, how many more times it would happen again.
“See? You want out already.” Agatha punched her lightly in the shoulder as Sera parked the Jeep.
“I want us all to live together forever,” Sera said as Agatha climbed out of the car.
Agatha stuck her head back into the vehicle, her eyes meeting Sera’s. “One day, they will all move out, and you will be alone and lonely. Or you could be with Harrison.”
With the slam of the door, Sera was alone. Agatha had been right. It was either Harrison or loneliness in Sera’s future. If she didn’t grab at him now, loneliness would win.
