Chapter 8: Parenting

“Nia, honey, please come with me.”

He led her into his bedroom (the one he shared with Leah). What worried him the most was that she wasn’t crying; she was apparently just feeling hopeless.

“Can you tell me what’s wrong, Nia?”

She shook her head.

“Is it because you might lose your spot in the girls’ bedroom?”

She shook her head.

“Nia, I promise, I will make sure you are safe and secure. Leah should have talked to you before all of this talk started. Is that it?”

She shook her head.

“Can you tell me what is making you so sad?”

“Not what, who. Val was my big sister. Now she’s Abel’s girlfriend, and Nan is going with Ted, and I’m all on my own again. Val has got what she always wanted—she got rid of me. Leah didn’t even notice. I’m just in their way because I’m little.”

“Oh, Nia, I’m so sorry. You’re never in MY way; I love you.”

Andrew was completely shocked but understanding. His arms pulled her into his chest, and he held on firmly. Upset, he blamed himself first for her distress. Nia slumped against him, her arms hanging at her sides.

Then she started to cry, and he was losing it as well. After a little while, her arms came up and around him to hug him back.

After another minute, Leah knocked gently on the door and stuck her head in. Andrew glared at her and abruptly shook his head. In just a couple of seconds, Leah took in his angry and tear-stained face and retreated, shutting the door behind her.

“So, I understand. I’m listening. What can I do to make things right?”

“I don’t know. Val doesn’t want a little sister, and Leah doesn’t care. I’m only ten, Andrew. I can’t fix anything.”

She had stopped crying and was now just sniffling, but that same hopeless look was back on her face. Seeing it hurt Drew’s heart.

“You have to trust me, Nia. I promise you, I will make things better. For now, why don’t you stay in here and rest? I’ll get your iPad. Is there anything else I can do? Did you have breakfast?”

“Uh-uh, no.”

“I’ll get you a bowl of crispy rice and some orange juice. Just relax, I’ll bring it in for you.”

“But...”

“Nope, take it easy. I’ll be right back.”

He brought in her iPad and her breakfast on a tray. Being spoiled this way helped her mood, and her little smile justified his effort.

“I am calling a family meeting, right now! Put that shit down, Ted. Nan, Abel, you’re excused. It’s about Nia.”

“I’d like to stay; I promise to keep silent.”

“Me too,” added Fernanda.

“All right, all of you come to the kitchen.”

“All of you Baileys have really let Nia down. Not since our parents died have I seen her so, so bereft. Val, do you remember telling Nia how you wanted to ‘get rid of her’? I don’t care if you do or you don’t. SHE remembers it. And now, your fixation on Abel and your even talking about putting him in your room means that to her, you have finally succeeded. Not ONE of you thought about how she would see how you were pushing her out.

“Val, things whirl around inside your head and spill out.”

Abel took Val’s hand and squeezed it. That comment hit close to home.

“Leah, Nia saw that you cared first for Val’s wants without even thinking of her. Would Mom have so obviously favored Val over Nia? Yeah, you’re feeling it now. That’s the feeling I just had, holding a weeping girl in my arms. Not just my little sister, the girl I’ve taken responsibility for since Mom and Dad died.

“We’re going to make this right, even if it means going back to separate households. That means, Carolina, you have the twins, Fernanda, and Abel. In a different house Leah and I have Tim, Ted, Val, and Nia.”

Peter was thinking and decided he had a constructive idea.

“Andrew, I respect your feelings, but I don’t think going backwards will help. Nia will feel Val’s resentment for causing Abel to be taken away. Ted will resent being divided from Nan because of a situation he had nothing to do with. Your relationship with Leah will be damaged, maybe permanently.