Between the two parents, Aisha had always imagined that they’d gotten a good overall set of lessons in the ways of the world. But they’d missed out on one key component.

“Want a hug?” Aisha asked her brother. She saw him hesitate. “A kiss on the cheek? I can pat your head, Rachel’s told me that works wonders.”

He shook his head, and his smile was slight, unsure. “No thanks.”

“I draw the line at french kisses,” Aisha told him.

“Stop,” Parian said, giving Aisha a light push on the shoulder. “He’s saying he’s going through a tough time.”

“It’s fine,” Brian said, even though he didn’t look fine. The lack of fine seemed to be more general than because of her. “Aisha’s the same as ever. That’s reassuring in its own way.”

“I read now. Is that enough to shake your image of me and put me in that comfortable-but-not-too-comfortable territory?” Aisha asked.

“It helps,” he said.

“Aunt Rachel?”

They looked around. Roman was leaning out of the door into the hallway.

“Oh, Aisha’s there too,” Roman said. “Can Aroa and I go grab more food from the caf?”

“You need an escort,” Aisha said. “Someone to keep you in line. You guys have been antsy, and I have a bad feeling.”

“I’ll walk them down there,” Rachel said. “I need to feed my animals.”

“Bring them back here after?”

Rachel grunted in the affirmative.

“I’m not sure I like that terminology,” Roman said. “That you’ll walk us. Collars and leashes for the Heartbroken?”

“Only if you make me,” Rachel said. “But I’ll get you treats.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Roman said.

“Parian?” Aisha asked. “Can you keep an eye on the kids inside? They were harassing the Tenders, and if they wake up Tattletale from her nap, there’ll be hell to pay.”

“Yes. Of course.”

“Thanks babe. Any word from Foil?” Aisha asked.

Parian shook her head. “We talked briefly when we crossed paths. She said she wants space. That’s it.”

“Okay. Good luck.”

Parian slipped back indoors.

Leaving Aisha alone with Brian.

It was so hard to talk. Again, that issue their parents had left with them. They were so bad at communicating. Their mom had ignored them, their dad had communicated by dragging them to gyms and telling them to turn their aggressions toward punching bags, with tears being deemed weakness. Anything else was their own shit to deal with.

“Aunt Rachel, huh?” he asked, breaking the awkward silence.

“Yup.”

“She seems… I thought after a few years of living out in the middle of nowhere on a foreign Earth, she’d cut off contact from humanity entirely.”

“Her little settlement grew,” Aisha said. “When it gets to be too much, she goes for a trip somewhere, spends a while with a few select dogs, and trusts her team to look after the dogs she leaves behind at the camp.”

“I can’t get over the ‘Aunt Rachel’ part.”

“It started as a joke and then became serious.”