Family Ties Read Free

had all day and night to dig further.
     
    Watching Brianna’s face light up as we entered the Children’s Museum was well worth the wait.  There was a space exhibit that I knew would please Brianna, seeing as how Crystal told me she’d taken an interest in astronomy.  We went through the thirty-minute tour and then I treated her to a manicure at my favorite salon.  I managed to convince her that the Rococo Red was a little too adult and that it might be more appropriate if she went with the Cotton Candy Pink.  There was some resistance at first, but when the manicurist informed her that Selena Gomez was a regular at the salon and frequently chose that color, Brianna was all for it. 
     
    After our pamper session, we walked the few blocks to my apartment.  The already brisk day was turning chillier, and we linked our arms for warmth.  While I prepared Brianna’s favorite dinner—spaghetti and meatballs with shredded cheese on top—she took a bath and changed into pajamas. Over dinner we talked about my mother’s upcoming Thanksgiving visit.
     
    “I love when Auntie Adrian comes to visit.  She always brings really cool gifts,” Brianna said while and licked sauce from her finger.
     
    “Yeah, that’s not all she brings,” I replied, handing her a napkin.
     
    “Huh?”
     
    “Nothing.”
     
    “So, what’s it like?”
     
    “What’s what like?” I asked, taking a sip of soda.
     
    “Living with a white man.”
     
    I nearly spat out my Pepsi.  “What do you mean?” 
     
    I was actually worried that Brianna might take my living with a man the wrong way.  It was important that she knew it was a roommate situation and not just shacking up with some random guy.  I figured that she was bright for her age and wouldn’t get the wrong idea.  What I didn’t expect was for her to take an interest in Patrick being white. Her question took me by surprise, not only because it was asked, but also because of how nonchalantly it rolled off her tongue.  What happened to my cute little niece, and where did this young lady come from asking such adult questions?
     
    “Is it weird?”
     
    “No, it’s not weird.  It takes a little getting used to… having a male roommate period, but not because he’s white.”
     
    “Oh.”
     
    Since Brianna had just put me on the spot, I figured turnabout was fair play. I was dying to know what was going on between her and Crystal.
     
    “So, I was talking to your Mom…”
     
    Brianna cut me off by blowing out her breath.
     
    “See, that right there is what I wanted to talk to you about.  What’s going on, Brianna?  Why the sudden attitude towards your Mom?”
     
    She just looked down at her empty plate.  I decided to back up and try being less confrontational. “Bri, you know that your mother loves you very much, and so do I.  If something is wrong, bothering you, I hope you know that you can talk to either one of us.”
     
    “Well, maybe I can talk to you .”
     
    “Why do you feel you can’t go to Crystal?”
     
    Brianna looked at me like she was trying to explain simple arithmetic and I just wasn’t getting it.  “My mother doesn’t have time to talk to me anymore.  We used to talk all the time, do things together.  But lately, she’s been too busy with…”
     
    “With what?”
     
    “She doesn’t think I know, but I do.  I’m not stupid and I’m not blind.”
     
    “Honey, no one thinks you’re stupid, but I can’t help with… with anything… until you tell me what it is that’s bothering you.”
     
    Brianna sighed deeply, pushed her plate away from her like what she had to say required too much room, and crossed her thin arms across her chest. “My mother has a boyfriend.”
     
    Was that all? 
     
    I was relieved to hear that Brianna wasn’t in trouble at school or anything like that, but I didn’t want to downplay Brianna’s feelings over Crystal having a new man in her life either.  No one likes to have their