Finding Family. Gina Wilkins

my life, and then when I calmly tell her that I’m old enough to know what I’m doing and I don’t really need her to make my decisions for me, she tries to make me feel guilty and irresponsible.”

      Amazing how oblivious Dani could be about her own behavior, Rachel thought with a shake of her head. Anyone who’d heard that aggrieved speech would think that she was completely innocent in her frequent disagreements with her mother. Rachel, who had been a spectator for all too many of those head-to-heads, knew better.

      Dani was always the first to raise her voice, the first to burst into tears, the first to claim that no one cared about her or what she wanted. Clay hadn’t dubbed Dani the drama princess for nothing. Their mother, he had added, was still the queen. When Dani asked what that made Rachel, he had merely shrugged and said Rachel was the “executive producer”—frantically putting out fires behind the scenes.

      “And where do you fit into this scenario you’ve created?” Dani had asked pointedly.

      With a shrug, Clay had replied, “Me? I’m just a member of the audience.”

      That response still bothered Rachel when she thought about it. Losing his father in his teens and being raised in a household of strong-willed and very vocal women had not been particularly easy for Clay. As a result, he had searched for his identity outside the home—and she wasn’t thrilled about some of the places in which he had looked. Where he was still looking.

      But she had to focus on her other sibling for now. “Dani, you can’t blame Mother for being worried about you. Let’s face it, you haven’t always made the best choices when it comes to men. And Kurt is married.”

      “Don’t you start, too,” Dani said, immediately on the defensive. “He’s getting a divorce.”

      “He’s been saying that for months. There’s been no evidence of it. Can’t you admit that there is reason to be concerned that he’s using you, Dani? That he has no intention of getting a divorce, but every hope of keeping you obligingly on the side for a while longer?”

      “Now you sound just like Mother. I didn’t call you for a lecture.”

      “No, you want me to argue your point to Mother. And I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. I’ll stay completely out of it, but I won’t try to defend Kurt.”

      “Well, thanks a lot.”

      “There’s no need to snap at me. I’m not going to side with her, either. I’m not getting involved either way.”

      “Neither one of you will listen to me. You’re both being closed minded and judgmental. If you would just give Kurt a chance…”

      Rachel had heard this spiel all too many times. She cut in firmly, “I’ll listen to you anytime you need to talk, but I’m not arguing with Mother for you. Now, it’s getting late, and I’m tired. So, good night. I’ll see you soon, okay?”

      “Fine. Great. Be that way. I won’t bother you with my problems again.”

      She wished, Rachel thought as she closed her phone after Dani summarily ended the call. But she would bet that she hadn’t heard the end of this argument.