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27
BRYNN
Brynn stared out the window at a row of houses as Aaron drove towards home. It had been a long afternoon of driving to Boston and meeting with Dani’s doctor.
She caught Dani’s reflection in the mirror and turned towards her daughter. “How do you feel about what the doctor said?”
Dani shrugged, then adjusted the several dangly bracelets on her wrist. “I wish we didn’t have to wait for the bloodwork before I start the hormones. I mean, I thought the whole point of getting the insurance and going to the specialist is so I can start this transition.”
Brynn bit her lip. She didn’t know the right answer. She was learning right alongside her daughter in this. “The doctor said the hormone blockers will help stop male puberty from happening. And then once they know your blood levels, we can start you on a low dose of estrogen. You’re almost in high school and it might be best to deal with one big thing at a time. There are so many adjustments and hormone changes anyways at this stage in your life, like the doctor said.”
Dani’s shoulders hunched.
Brynn reached out and placed her hand on Dani’s knee. “But we have time to think about your options. I want to do what’s best for you, okay? We’re in this together.”
Dani smiled.
Brynn settled back in her seat, wishing to uplift her daughter’s spirit after an emotionally challenging afternoon. “Are you excited to get your ears pierced?”
“Yes!” Dani squealed.
If anyone back at the compound knew, to say they would be livid was an understatement. It only made Brynn want to give that to Dani even more. A rush of defiance soared through her. God, it felt good to rebel against the Livingston clan in this way. What else have I been holding back on because of their teachings? Maybe I can push the limits a little more.
“Do you guys mind if I stop by Hope for a few minutes? I have something I’d like to show you,” Aaron asked.
“Oh, no, that’s fine,” Brynn said.
Aaron flicked his blinker on and turned into the parking lot of Hope Facility. There were way more cars than usual in the parking lot, so they’d had to park further away. They climbed out of the car and Dani hooked her arm in Brynn’s.
“Is there something going on today?” Brynn asked.
Aaron smirked. “It’s a surprise.” He opened the first set of doors, and she walked in, Dani skipping ahead through the foyer.
The sound of upbeat music vibrated through the entryway. She followed Dani into the main room. Possibly a hundred people took up the space in between colorful red and yellow stations. It was an indoor carnival of sorts. The smell of buttery popcorn and fried dough filled the space. Upbeat pop music filtered in from the live band performing on the stage.
“What do you think?” Aaron moved closer and shouted over the crowd and live music.
Brynn’s eyes widened, taking it all in. Laughter rose from her right. A group of teens played a game of darts to win one of the stuffed animals from one of the half a dozen games lined up.
“What is this?”
“This is your idea come to life. The first step anyways.”
Her brows drew together in question. “What do you mean?”
“This is a chance for potential host families to meet and get to know the displaced youth here. A chance to draw in those interested and answer their questions so that we can match them with youth who need a home and a host family. And over there—” He pointed to a table at the far end with a dozen or so people she recognized as Shattered Cove residents from the diner. “—are where they sign up and make an appointment with Bently and the Shattered Cove PD to get fingerprinted for their background checks. The table next to that—” His hand moved to the one with the pretty woman with dark hair who was smiling and laughing with the person across from her. “—is where my assistant, Leslie, is signing people up for classes and volunteering positions.”
“But we just talked about this like last week.”
He shrugged, leaning in. “When I know what I want, I go after it. You had a brilliant idea to help us find rooms for some kids who would’ve had to wait until the new dorms were ready in the spring. Now, at least some of them will have a place. And I’ve spoken with the other centers like mine in the surrounding states and they’re arranging similar events.”
There was so much to unpack in what he was saying, but her mind was still spinning.
“Oh my God!” Dani squealed and pointed, jumping up and down. “That’s Violet Sanders! Ohmygodohmygod! I have to go over there.”
“Who?” Brynn asked, searching the crowd where her daughter pointed.
“The author of Selfie! How did you . . .” Dani jumped into Aaron’s space and hugged him around the waist. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
