Random Encounter by Allyson Lindt

Fifteen

Dustin

I didn’t like dropping Addie at her apartment Sunday morning. Not only was yesterday a blast, but I was still concerned about her ex. She assured me she wouldn’t be spending much time at her place today, and that Graham would be back, and she had a plan to make things safer.

It wasn’t a great answer, but she wouldn’t let me argue.

I could sit outside her apartment, see if Sean came back. How much like him did that make me?

While I was making her promise to call me if there were any issues at all, my sister called.

Addie headed inside. When I was sure she was safe, I listened to the voicemail from Daria. “I need a huge favor. Joe was supposed to take the girls for the week while I’m in Atlanta. He was called out of town at the last minute.” Her disdain was obvious, even in the message. “They’re set during the day with school and the babysitter, but I need someone to watch them at night. Can they stay with you?”

I rolled my eyes. Not at her—I adored Daria, and my nieces. But her ex-husband... apparently the world was filled with asshole ex’s. Would I be one now if I’d gotten married? Probably best I never had to find out.

I called her back.

Did my Student Body President, Voted Most Likely to Succeed sister hate going through high school with the same name as a cartoon character who was her opposite? Quite.

Did her divorce teach her to appreciate Cartoon Daria’s level of cynicism? Without question.

“Got your message,” I said when she answered. “It’s no problem, of course.”

“Thank you. My flight is in a few hours. Can you pick them up today?” Daria worked for an angel investor firm, and did a specialized kind of on-boarding. She spent a lot of time at client sites making sure they were structured and prepared to take in the investment and use it appropriately.

“Be there in fifteen.” I talked to her a bit longer, making sure she was all right and getting an extensive list of instructions that I registered enough so I wouldn’t be surprised when she emailed me the exact same thing.

When I got to Daria’s house, Harmony answered the door. She was wearing a pink tutu skirt over a nightgown, and she threw her arms around my legs. “Uncle Dustin. Yay.”

I ruffled her hair. “I hear we’re having a sleepover at my place.”

“Because Daddy’s a dickhead.” She grabbed my hand, tugged me into the living room, and grabbed a tablet off the coffee table. “Come see what I want for my birthday.”

I’d correct her on the first statement, Daria would want me to, but Harmony wasn’t wrong. And I’d remind her again that her sixth birthday wasn’t for three more months, but she’d been planning since the day after her fifth, and wouldn’t be dissuaded. I would, however, talk her down from another plan to rent a real castle, if it came up. “Show me.”

Harmony scrolled through screens. “Alana says she doesn’t want to go to your house. She says it smells like boy.”

I had no idea what that meant.

“I did not.” Alana’s voice came from behind me. She was twelve.

Daria had worked to put Joe through college, and they’d never intended to have a second child. Harmony was a graduation celebration baby. I was pretty sure the pregnancy had been Joe’s way to try to keep the marriage together, but I’d never say that. Daria loved both girls dearly, and so did I.

“Don’t be liar,” Alana said

“I’m not a liar, you’re a liar,” Harmony screamed.

“Enough.” I put an edge in my voice to make it boom. I’d spoil these girls from here to the moon and back, but that didn’t mean I let them get away with bickering. “I don’t care if it was or wasn’t said.”

“Girls, go put your bags in Dustin’s car.” Daria joined Alana in the doorway.

Alana scowled and lightly stomped her foot.

“Now,” Daria said.

Both girls rushed off.

“What does that mean? My house smells like a boy.” I asked Daria.

She smiled through the exhaustion lining her face. “I don’t know. Lay off the Axe?”

I scoffed with exaggerated offense. “It’s not Axe. It’s whatever was on sale and had a store brand on it.”

“Yeah, right, Lady Killer. As if you own anything store brand. Thank you so much for doing this at the last minute.”

“You know it’s never an issue. Everything all right? Harmony told me Daddy was a dickhead.”

Daria’s smile wilted in a long sigh. “I wish you’d corrected her.”

“What makes you think I didn’t?”

“She got it from Alana. Joe was supposed to be at her swim meet next week, and now he won’t make it. He sent her a new sweater as an apology. Pink.”

I winced.

“Yeah.” Daria tugged her ponytail forward and chewed on the end. “Harmony co-opted it the instant it hit the floor, and Princess Garibaldi is wearing it now.”

I snickered at the name. “Tell me that’s a bear.”

“It’s a duck. I can’t believe you let them watch Babylon 5.” She didn’t sound upset.

“I can’t believe you haven’t yet. They need to be introduced to the classics early.”

Daria shook her head. “I emailed you the list for while I’m gone. Let me know if you have any questions. Don’t forget swim practice is at six tomorrow morning, and if you feed them pizza for breakfast, at least make sure they take a multi-vitamin with it.”

I’d done that once, when Alana was seven, and Daria had never let me live it down. “I’ve got it, I promise.”

“Let’s go.” Harmony was back, grabbing my hand and yanking me toward the door.

Daria crouched to five-year-old height. “Give me hugs.”

Both girls hugged and kissed her, they said their goodbyes, and we were on our way.

I totally had this. No problem.