Unanswered

"What was she like?" Luna asked her aunt from the kitchen table.

Blaire continued to clean as if she hadn't heard, much to Luna's dismay. Outside, the two heard the roar of the soldiers' trucks. Now that night was nearing, the soldiers were doubling and tripling outside. Voices lowered. Dogs barked at the trucks to no avail. Luna coughed to try to pull her aunt's attention away from planning for another long night.

"Did you know my mother?"

"Well, of course, I did. What gets you asking about her?" Blaire said as she went to work washing off the dining room table.

"Well, Ingrid's mother had said some things about her. She said she isn't as bad as people say she is."

"Well, Lydia doesn't know what she's talking about." Then, after a slight pause, "If your mother wanted to be here, she knows where to find us."

"What do you mean? What mother doesn't want her own babies?"

"That's what I said. But, once Elias was born, your mother just went crazy. She was mean to you guys and your daddy didn't want you guys in that environment."

"Sometimes, I see her in my dreams," Luna murmured.

Her father's truck pulling up quieted her. Blaire hinted that her niece should go clean her room, and Luna went up the stairs just as David got into the house. He planted a kiss on his sister's cheek and sat down. They spoke candidly for about half an hour before Blaire confessed what happened.

"Did you tell her everything?"

"Of course not, but she's smart..."

"I knew one of them would want to know her. I just can't handle seeing her again after everything she did to us."

"I understand," Blaire said. "Luna will too."

"Luna is her mother's child. I've seen how she treats the boys-"

"Stop that! She is not Kassidy."

"Blaire, you can't tell me you don't see it. I mean, she broke Charlie's nose last week because he tried to take one of her fries."

"David--"

"No! You know what I had to put up with. I don't want my daughter even asking about that woman. I still have scars. So do they. I don't want to put that energy back in this house."

Any point Blaire was going to make was shut down by her brother sobbing. She tried to console him, too softly for Luna to hear from the steps. She hadn't noticed the tears either until one fell on her leg, right above a splotchy scar. Deciding never to make her father cry again, she pushed her mother from her mind and went down the stairs to give her father a hug.