True Places(32)

“For awards ceremonies, for instance,” Brynn said.

Her dad nodded. “Your mother said she could make it work. We’ll all have to adjust a little.”

Brynn groaned and pulled her knees up so her parents couldn’t see her texting Lisa in her pocket.

BRYNN: Wild child is moving in. FML

LISA: !!!

BRYNN: Your couch is comfy . . .

Her mother looked nervous. She knew this was a ridiculous idea. Brynn had never known anyone who had a foster kid living with them. It was the kind of thing people did because they were too religious and wanted to save the world, or because they needed the money. It wasn’t something people who already had money did. People with money who gave a shit about this sort of thing raised money, not sketchy kids.

Brynn said, “Why are you doing this to us?”

Her mother sighed like she hated air. “Because Iris needs somewhere to live. She’s only sixteen.”

“But it’s not your problem.”

“You’re right. I could turn my back on her and let her go to strangers.” She stared at Brynn, waiting for it to sink in, as if she’d said something monumental. “But that seemed wrong. And your father agrees.”

Brynn said, “Do you, Dad? Because you’re pretty quiet over something that’s about to ruin our lives.”

Her dad shrugged. “I’m not going to pretend I don’t have reservations. But she’s a terrified kid who needs help. And she has a lot to learn about modern life.” He spread some dip on a cracker and gestured with it. “Think of her as an exchange student.”

“Seriously?” Brynn sank farther down into the cushions. “This is a disaster. I’ll never be able to have anyone over here again. You guys won’t be seeing much of me, you know that, right?”

“Brynn . . .” Her mother shook her head.

Her mother wasn’t taking her seriously. What else was new? It made Brynn furious. Her mother talked about respect all the time, how she wanted more of it, but she didn’t show her own daughter much. Her mother always knew better, always made the right call, and Brynn was just some dumbass kid. “Maybe that’s what you want, Mom. You don’t like the kids you have, so you thought you’d get another one.”

“Brynn, that’s absurd.”

“Is it? You’re always trying to control me, make me someone I’m not.” Brynn pointed at her brother. “And you do the same thing to Reid.”

Reid sat up straighter, but his voice was dead calm. “Defending me. That’s a new twist.”

Brynn said, “Well, you need help, that’s for sure. Freak.”

“Stop it, Brynn!” Her mother was halfway out of her chair. Brynn covered her head with her arms as if her mother were going to hit her, which she had never done. Whenever Brynn stood up for herself, whenever she was honest, she sensed her mother’s rage snaking under the surface, about to leap out, so Brynn instinctively defended herself. There didn’t have to be actual violence for her to feel like it was present and real. Brynn wanted to smack her mother or pull her hair practically every day and assumed her mother must feel the same, at least occasionally. One thing she’d learned pretty quickly once she became a teenager: adults aren’t all that adult.

Her father put his hand on her mother’s shoulder and stuck her back in her seat. “For God’s sake, calm down. All of you.”

Reid was just sitting there, calm as could be, probably meditating in secret. It was so rude. Her dad was awesome and put up with more than he should from her mother and Reid. Her father’s disappointment in Reid was something Brynn had sensed long before she had understood it. A couple of years ago, she’d heard her father talking to another dad after she’d won a big race. “I’m so proud of her,” he’d said. “Daughters are the new sons.” She knew then that her role was to be her father’s joy, his favorite, and anything her mother or Reid did to interfere with that was unacceptable. Her dad hadn’t blown off the awards ceremony. He always showed up when he could shake free from work. And whether he actually showed up or not, he treated her like an adult, unlike her mom, who acted like Brynn was still a baby. Either that or on the verge of becoming a delinquent. Her mom didn’t trust Brynn to be in charge of her own life. It was insulting. But her dad appreciated her maturity and didn’t constantly judge. He was the best and deserved the son he dreamed of having, even if it happened to be a daughter.

Her father sighed and finished his wine. “Maybe another teenager is not exactly what we need.”

Her mother’s voice was low and steady, but the way she strung out her words meant she was furious, as if the sentence were a ticking bomb that she had to figure out how to disarm before she got to the end. “Aside from the fact that we’d already come to a decision, Whit, the truth is Iris needs help and we are more than able to help her, so we should stop and think about her, the situation she is in, instead of ourselves.”

Brynn looked pleadingly at her father. “Daddy . . .”

He lifted his hands and turned to her mother. “You’re right. I’m sorry. We have decided. Assuming we get the official approval, Iris is coming to live with us. I know how strongly you feel about her and, given everything you do for all of us every day, we should have your back.”