Chapter 11: The Other Family

Audrey stayed beside me when Caroline called her the other daughter.

She didn't go back into the drawing room.

I put the walking book beneath my arm.

"I haven't taken anybody," I told Caroline.

"We were choosing a walk."

Caroline looked at Audrey's loose cardigan sleeves.

"You're changing everything at once," she said.

"I've changed my shirt," Audrey answered.

Caroline pressed her lips together and went upstairs.

Audrey looked at me with an apologetic expression.

"You don't need to do that," I said.

She stopped looking apologetic and looked angry instead.

I preferred it because it was honest.

My phone rang before either of us found anything else to say.

It was my mother, calling from home.

"Hi, Mom," I answered.

Audrey began moving toward the drawing room to give me privacy.

I touched her sleeve and asked if she wanted to meet her.

She nodded, so I put the call on speaker.

My mother wanted to know whether I'd found my socks.

I told her Hallie had delivered them.

"Good," she said.

Then I introduced Audrey.

My mother said she was pleased to meet her.

She didn't ask whether Audrey was the adopted one.

She asked whether she liked walking.

"I'm finding out," Audrey replied.

"She's got decent socks," I added.

My mother laughed and said that was a good start.

My mother asked Audrey whether she'd like to visit our home sometime.

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