Wren puts her hands on her hips. “Yes, he does.”
People start filing down the hallway, and I recognize some of the girls from Fallen from Zero, the band my sisters belong to. I also recognize Star and Wren’s adoptive parents. I’ve seen them in publicity photos. Her dad glares at me but he doesn’t say anything. He knows who I am, though. That much is obvious.
Star gets up and walks down the hallway. She’s pissed.
“Well, that went well,” Wren says as she flops into a chair. She points to the guy in the wheelchair, then at me. “Oh, this is our brother, Tag. Tag, this is Josh. Josh works at the tattoo shop I was telling you about, with the Reeds.” She’d mentioned the Reeds briefly when she was prattling on about nothing in the cab.
I shake his hand. “Nice to meet you,” I say. He has ink across his knuckles and pretty much everywhere else.
“Aren’t you going to see the baby?” Josh asks.
“Is it here?” Wren cries.
Josh nods and smiles. Wren shrieks and gets to her feet, then runs down the hallway.
I sit with Josh for a minute. The silence wraps around us like a warm wool blanket. It’s heavy and oppressive. “Where are you from, man?” he finally asks.
“From the past,” I say. “And apparently I should have stayed there.” But I need this. I need my sisters in so many ways.
“What brings you to New York?”
I shrug. “I needed a change.” And a lot of money to pay off a girl so I can get a baby.
“So you thought looking up long-lost sisters was the way to go?”
I laugh, but it comes out sounding pretty insincere. “It was now or never, you know? I needed to be in the city. I just didn’t expect to walk into a mess.”
“Some call it a baby. Some call it a mess.” He holds his hands up like he’s weighing two things, lowering one and raising the other.
“Yeah, Wren filled me in on the way here. Babies are pretty special. A gift from God.” I find that people trust a God-fearing individual. So, I am one. Or at least I want him to think I am. My own faith is currently on shaky ground. But he doesn’t need to know that.
“I’m going to go and find Star,” he suddenly says. He starts to roll down the hallway and I stay in my seat. My sisters have to walk by me in order to exit, so I wait.
“See you later, man,” I say.
I wait. And wait. And wait…and when no one returns I’m worried that they left without me.
I get up and go down the hallway, peering into doorways until I see Josh in his wheelchair inside a room. I knock on the door and stick my head inside. “Can I join you?” I ask. I flinch inside, worried they’ll say no.
Star sits up and says, “No, you may not.”
“Oh, shut it, Star.” Wren motions me into the room and makes introductions. Sam Reed, who I recognize from TV, looks curious. And Peck doesn’t look like she appreciates my presence at all.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, Peck yawns. Josh says, “I’m going to go home so you guys can get some rest.” Sam takes his baby from Josh, who had been holding him.
“Where’s he going to stay?” Star asks, nodding toward me.
Wren heaves a sigh. “He’s going to stay in Peck’s old room for a few days.”
“No, he is not!” Star jumps to her feet and punches her hands into her hips. “No!”
Wren closes her eyes and massages her forehead. “The room is just sitting there empty. He doesn’t have anywhere to go.”
“And this is our problem why?”
“Because he shares our DNA!” Wren yells. The baby startles and Sam growls at them both. But inside, I rejoice because it has been a long time since anyone has taken up for me.
“Knock it off,” Sam warns.
“Why can’t he get a hotel room?” Star asks, her voice growing quiet.
“Because he doesn’t have any money!” Wren whisper-hisses back.
“Money,” Star bites out. “That’s what this is about.”
Yep. She pegged me in two seconds.
“He’s going home with us. That’s all there is to it.” Wren clenches her teeth.
“Then I’m not.” Star stares her down.
Wren sighs. She glares at our sister. “If that’s how you want it.”
“Fine.” Star leans over and kisses Peck on the forehead, whispers in her ear, and then kisses Sam’s cheek. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then Star walks out of the room.
Sam nods his head subtly at Josh, and Josh follows her out, rolling in her wake.
“That didn’t go very well,” I say. “I should go and get her.” I get to my feet.
“You better not,” Peck warns.
I jerk my thumb in the direction she went. “But she’s leaving.”
“Let her go,” Sam says. “Josh will take care of her. He’s been taking care of her all night.”
Wren grins. “Oh, do tell,” she says.
Sam starts to tell us about Star dancing on a piano, so drunk she could barely walk. My conscience prickles a little, since I know I caused that.
“Star never gets drunk like that,” Wren says quietly. She looks worried.
“Josh will take care of her,” Sam says again. He doesn’t look worried at all. In fact, he winks at his wife and she grins at him, rolling her eyes.
“I feel bad that she’s not going home. And it’s all because of me,” I say quietly.