Only Love by Victoria H. Smith, Raven St. Pierre

Always , but if you’re with Marissa’s father I shouldn’t be confused about anything. His presence in your daughter’s life, in your life, would be completely known to me. No room for confusion.”
    Her body stiffened in my arms, and for the first time, she drew away from me.
    She pulled away.
    Lifting a slow finger in my direction, her jaw clenched. “You don’t know a thing about this situation.”
    I put my hands together. “Then help me with that.”
    I wasn’t lying before. If she needed me to step back I would, but it didn’t seem like that was actually what she wanted. She was telling me that, expressing that to me, but I wasn’t convinced. She lacked confidence in what she’d said and Aubrey was one person who read nothing but self-assurance. I wasn’t buying what she was selling. I didn’t know if she was either.
    Her phone rang in her pocket and that conversation, for now, was left in the air. She took it, stepping back into the apartment, but she didn’t leave the door open more than a crack. I took that for I wasn’t welcome to follow her.
    Picking back up my bag, I waited, hoping Gabby would come along soon. That problem a few mornings ago hit again. I couldn’t turn my ears off and heard Aubrey’s voice from just inside.
    I stepped closer to the door, viewing through the crack. Just barely, I saw Aubrey in her kitchen, her back to me while on the phone.
    “Aunt Jen,” she started but cut herself off, listening. She tried again. “Aunt Jen, I swear. You only have to watch Rissa for a few more days. Just a few more.” She paused, listening again. “I know what I said before but it’s only a little while longer. No. No, there’s nothing wrong with the place I take her it’s just… I’m having trouble paying right now. But her dad’s sending money. In fact, right now as we speak, and I’ll be able to take her back to daycare real soon.”
    I turned away, but just as before my ears didn’t stop from intruding.
    “Just a few—” She stopped talking again for a moment. “A few means three. After that, you… You can’t do more than today?”
    Her voice went achingly quiet on the end, and I closed my eyes.
    “Okay,” she continued whisper-light. “Okay, that’s fine. Thanks for telling me and for taking her. I appreciate it.”
    The door flew open and I was thrown off by Gabby’s sudden appearance. She traipsed out into the hallway, the straps of her book bag on her shoulders.
    “You ready?” she asked me, grinning.
    I shook my head at her. “I believe I was waiting out here for you. So, are you ready?”
    She laughed, backing down the hall. “Already two steps ahead.”
    Gabby had no idea but she saved me from looking like I was doing more in that hall than waiting for her to show. Aubrey appeared in the hall only seconds later, Rissa in her arms, and I couldn’t see her being easy to forgive if she found out I’d been listening in on what was supposed to be a private conversation between she and her aunt. The pair waved Gabby off, which she returned before going down the stairs. I told her I’d be down in just a second and I took the time to give my own goodbye. I gave a wave of my own to tiny Rissa, but her reach out toward me made me extend it. I closed the distance to let her play with my hand, noticing she wasn’t trying to chew it this time. Her mouth really must be feeling better. The awkwardness between her mom and me was ever present while I stood there. I decided to segue it, thinking about something.
    “I forgot to mention,” I said reaching into the pocket of my bag. Rissa let me have my hand back long enough to get my wallet. I pulled out a business card from it, one of a few I had of my moms’ congregation as they liked me to spread the word about the church to the people I met on my day-to-day, those in the streets and whatnot. “My moms told me to mention the church’s daycare service to you.”
    Aubrey took the card from my fingers, eyeing.