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3
BRYNN
Brynn zipped up the back of Danielle’s pink dress. It was secondhand, but you’d never know looking at it. Danielle’s eyes lit up, sparkling with happiness as she studied herself in the spotted old mirror. It wasn’t the best, but it was all they had in the room they rented month to month above the garage of a kind older woman, Mrs. Giddeon, who mostly kept to herself.
Brynn held her breath as her daughter gazed at her own reflection. Mirrors had been tough, but Dani smiled, and Brynn sighed in relief. Today was a good day. The dress and makeup probably had something to do with it.
“You look beautiful.” Brynn clipped a sparkly barrette on the side of Danielle’s hair so that the grown-out bangs were out of her face.
Her daughter’s grin grew. “I can’t wait to show my friends my new dress.”
A pang of pride flitted in Brynn’s chest. Danielle’s friends from the center and Aspen would be more than welcoming, but it was the rest of the world she was concerned about. How much would her daughter have to struggle out there? If someone used the wrong pronoun, would Dani slip back into her depression? Would someone want to hurt her?
Brynn’s gaze darted to the scuffed flats by her mattress. There wasn’t much room in the small space with two twin beds, a few pieces of old rickety furniture, and mini appliances. A tiny bathroom with a stand-up shower was the only addition to the modest space. It wasn’t much, but it was the first thing she’d ever had to herself. A roof over her daughter’s head, food in their bellies, and clothes on their bodies was something she was thankful for every day. She never took it for granted.
Brynn sat on the edge of the bed, her dark-blue floral summer dress rising just above her knee. She instinctively pulled it down.
“Are you going to tell Mr. Ridley tonight?” Dani asked.
Brynn slipped the grey sweater over her shoulders. “I’m going to talk to him. But, sweetheart, you do know it wouldn’t be real, right?”
Danielle slipped her coat on and rolled her eyes. “Yes, Mom. You’ve told me like a hundred times.”
“But you’re comfortable with this? We could pack up and leave, find somewhere else—”
“No. Please, Mom? I don’t want to move. I have friends here. Please don’t make me go.” Whatever happiness had lit her daughter’s eyes moments ago now dimmed.
“Alright. I just want you to know that’s why we’re doing this. I don’t want to make any more trouble for Mr. Ridley, and I’m not even sure if he was serious, but I’ll talk to him.”
“Yes!” Dani smiled.
Brynn slipped the silver flats onto her feet and stood. “Let’s go. We don’t want to miss the bus.”
Nerves twisted her belly, skating up her spine, her hands trembling as she locked the small apartment behind her.
Crisp autumn air cut through her thin sweater, but it was all she had. This or the hoodie full of holes she usually wore, but that wouldn’t be appropriate for the quinceañera the Hope Facility was putting on. She drew the front closed tighter and adjusted her purse across her body as they trudged down the driveway, then the quarter of a mile to the bus stop. She looked up at the sky, taking in a long pull of crisp air that smelled like dead leaves with the hint of woodsmoke from a neighbor’s chimney. Am I doing the right thing? Can I trust Aaron? Why would he help us?
Brynn needed answers, and she intended to get them.
After the bus pulled up outside the Hope Facility, Brynn walked into the giant recreation room, usually reserved for sporting games and leisure activities for the kids. Gone was the lounge furniture—except the pool table in the back corner. Instead, dozens of circular tables decorated with white linen and red rose centerpieces surrounded a makeshift dance floor. Couples in suits and ballgowns moved together to the upbeat music, blasting through the speakers. Gold, black, and white balloons and streamers decorated the space, making it the most elaborate party Brynn had ever witnessed.
“There’s Mr. Ridley,” Danielle pointed out.
Brynn searched where her daughter had gestured, finding him talking to the drag queen Miss Marsha Divine. Aaron’s bright, white teeth contrasted with his coppery brown skin. The top two buttons on his salmon-colored dress shirt were undone, giving a peek to the hollow below his throat. The grey suit fit his muscular frame like it was tailored to him. His head tipped back as he laughed at something Miss Divine said, the disco light reflection moving across his strong jaw and sharp lines of his face. The same unfamiliar feeling she got whenever she was around him swirled in Brynn’s belly before moving south to her most secret places. What is that?
Jarred by the foreign sensation, she cast her gaze around the room, already filling with people for the quinceañera fundraiser. A rainbow of color all in one place. Every race and creed, gender and sexual orientation sharing food and drink, laughs and conversation. This place was the epitome of acceptance and love. There was no way she could take Danielle from here, from her new home. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. Even if it meant marrying a stranger.
“Stay in this room, okay?” Brynn stipulated.
“I see Kate and Will. I’m gonna go say hi. I’ll see you later.” Dani left her, heading over to her friends by the drink table.
Brynn sucked in a big breath and let it out. It was now or never. She tugged her sweater tighter around herself and made her way to Aaron. His brown eyes caught on her as she moved closer, a cautious smile turning the edge of his pink- and brown-tinged lips up. He focused back on Miss Divine before patting her shoulder and meeting Brynn the rest of the way.
“Good evening. I wasn’t sure you’d show up after . . .” He rubbed the back of his head.
Brynn’s gaze dropped down to his broad chest, to his expensive-looking grey suit. “I-I wondered if we could talk?”
He turned his head and leaned closer, as if he couldn’t hear her over the loud music. “I’m sorry, what?”
