8. Chapter 8

Their awakening the day before had been rude. Today managed to be worst. The bedroom door flying open jerked all three of them from sleep, and aunt Lynn's booming voice dragged them away from any hope of returning to it. "Rise and shine!" She declared.

Beside Lyra, Lemy groaned. She blearily looked to the clock beside the bed to see if was just past 7. "Moooom." Lacy groaned from the floor. "Five more minutes." She pleaded.

"Oh no! We have the whole day ahead." She stopped and stared down at the floor where Lacy had laid her sleeping back the night before. The preteen made another noise of protest. In response Lynn leaned down. Lyra heard an 'eep!' of panic and when she stood back up, she had the sleeping bag propped on her shoulder. Lacy had zipped herself in in an attempt to save herself.

"Hey Lincoln!" Lynn called. "Can I use your shower?"

"No!" The sleeping bag started thrashing. "I'm up! I'm up!"

"That a girl!" Aunt Lynn set their cousin back down. "Ten minutes Lacy!" She called as she left the room.

"Ugh." Lacy grunted from the floor. Lemy had pulled a pillow over his head in an effort to get back to sleep. Since it was close enough to her usual time, Lyra got up anyway.

"Rough morning, Lacy?" Their uncle poked his head through the doorway, looking awake despite a serious case of bed head.

"I ate too much yesterday." The younger girl moaned.

"Uh huh." Lincoln nodded in understanding. He retrieved a t-shirt and some shorts from the dresser. "You guys can make your own breakfast." He went back into the hallway and met his sister when she came out of the bathroom. "Hey Lynn, how about a few laps around the block?" As soon as he said it, Lyra could see her aunt's eyes light up.

"You're on!" She darted from the hallway. Lincoln looked back and gave a thumbs up. Lacy returned one from the comfy confines of the sleeping bag before he closed the door and left them in silence.

"He's really good at dealing with Mom." Lacy yawned.

"I see." That had been slightly amusing. It wasn't till they could hear the front door slam shut that Lacy finally emerged from her sleeping bag and stretched.

"Are you staying up?"

"Yeah. I just want a few minutes before running." And then she got the same glint in her eyes her mom just had. "First!" She darted out of the bedroom and into the bathroom across the hall. Lyra smiled just a bit and decided to head to the kitchen for breakfast.

She elected for something simple- orange juice and some toaster pastries- and made enough for three. When Lacy was done in the bathroom, Lyra stopped in the bedroom to get a fresh pair of clothes. "I'm making breakfast." Her brother still had a pillow hugged over his head.

"Later." He said. She let him try to get back to sleep. By the time she was dressed and returned to the kitchen, Lacy had already eaten her portion…and most of what would've been Lemy's.

"Hey." She spoke through a mouthful of food. As Lyra sat down to eat, she noticed her cousin glancing over at her, a little red in the face.

"Is something the matter?"

"No, no." Lacy said quickly. "Uhh…Thanks again for last night." She mumbled.

"You're welcome." Lyra wasn't really surprised she'd been right about her assumption about her cousin- she thought she was a good reader of people. Lacy had just been doing what any child of a single parent was bound to do. The same thing Lemy and her had both done. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about."

"Did you ever feel awkward about it?" Lacy asked. "Not having a dad?"

"No. Not really." Lyra answered. Lacy's insecurity stemmed from seeing her peers with two parents. At the cost of social interaction, Lyra and Lemy had never had that issue. "Envy rots the bones. We're thankful for what we do have. You should be too."

"I'm not jealous." She huffed, although something about her insistence seemed false. "I just wonder what it'd be like. There's so many Daddy's Girls at school it's hard to not notice. Plus, I mean…" She blushed a little. "Mom told me WHY kids have a mother and father… cause of puberty. They gotta 'make one' and…ugh." She looked disgusted. "I was just thinking about it more."

"Hmm." Lyra nodded. So aunt Lynn had told her about 'the act'. Lyra wondered if she'd told her about abstinence and sanctity of marriage. Or if she'd be out of place if she told her cousin about it instead. She wasn't the kind to try and press the Word of God onto other people. At least not anymore; it'd been ineffectual on her mother and nearly pushed her brother away from her, so she'd stopped.

Another time, maybe. It wasn't a subject to discuss while eating.

"Do you think it might be weird if I tell him about it?" Lacy asked, keeping the conversation going. "You know, just saying 'thanks for trying?'? Lyra shook her head.

"No. I think he'd actually appreciate it." She didn't really doubt it anymore after yesterday- he really was trying to fill that role, at least to his three nieces here in town; Lyra wondered to herself what his view on Lemy and her was. "Like I said last night, he's probably trying to fulfill that role for you, Liby, and Lupa. Knowing he's succeeding could only put him in good spirits."

"Lupa?" Lacy asked. "Isn't that aunt Lucy's daughter?"

"…Yes." Lyra confirmed after a moment to compose herself. She didn't know that?

"Oh." Lacy started nodding. "Yeah, I met her once." She looked confused. "Does Uncle Lincoln watch her too? I thought they lived far away?" Far away? It was just the edge of town. Although neither Lacy or Lupa's mothers had a car, so maybe the distance was prohibitive.

Or maybe her hunch about her aunts being distant to each other was right too. If that was the case, she should steer this conversation elsewhere- she wouldn't want to get her cousin in trouble by making her question her mother about a difficult subject.

"He said he has." Lyra told her. "I don't know how often. But I think you should thank him." It'd be good for her to get off her chest. And let their uncle know he was appreciated, because Aunt Lynn certainly wasn't expressing it from what Lyra could see.

Speaking of the adults, they returned at that moment. Lincoln came through the door first, covered in sweat and breathing heavily. After a noticeable few seconds, so did Aunt Lynn. Lyra didn't think she'd ever seen the women looked so worn out. She was absolutely drenched and heaving.

"How far did you guys run?" Lacy asked as both stumbled into the kitchen to get water.

"Not…very far." Lincoln gasped as he chugged from a water bottle.

"It was…too…easy." Lynn's breathing steadied after she'd downed the entire bottle in one go. "Get dressed, Lacy. We have to go home." The 12-year-old decided there weren't going to be any more delays and got up, mouthing a 'thank you' at Lyra as she headed for the bedroom where her overnight bag was.

"I can drive you guys home." Lincoln offered his sister.

"Pfft." She waved him away. "Like you're gonna…" She stopped and her face got a little green. She darted over to the trashcan and vomited. Lincoln jumped back, and Lyra stayed seated; it was nothing new to her. "Ugggh. Alright." She conceded and stumbled into the living room.

"She's fine." Lyra's uncle told her. "She just overworks herself sometimes."

"I had no idea you could do better than her." Lyra was actually pretty impressed. He shrugged.

"I just have a longer stride and she was trying to keep up with me." He admitted modestly. He decided it was probably a good idea to take the trash out now and left. Breakfast done, Lyra walked back into the living room to see her aunt stretching. Despite her earlier action, she stayed enthused.

"I have to get you and your bro on a regimen." She told her. "Next time you drop by."

"Mhm." Lyra acknowledged. She didn't really want to discuss the subject, so she headed back into the bedroom just as Lacy was going to the bathroom to change. Lemy was laying there, staring up at the ceiling annoyed. "You should tell them goodbye."

"Can I go back to bed after they leave?"

"If you want." That was enough for him. He tossed off the blanket and got up. Lyra followed so they could see them off together. She just managed to avoid shuddering when her sweaty aunt hugged her goodbye. Lemy wasn't as tactful, but their aunt obviously found it more funny than offensive. From Lacy, Lyra got a hug and Lemy a knock on the shoulder. With promises from both mother and daughter to 'dominate' the two at the upcoming pool visit, the pair left with their uncle to go home. It was just after 7:30.

"Glad she's gone." Lemy muttered.

"Hush." She thought he might still be grouchy about last night. She didn't blame him, since Lacy had been pretty rude to snap at him. "Lacy knows what she did was wrong." Lemy didn't look like he cared and went back to bed. She decided to let it slide.

She decided to watch T.V, a look at the guide a few days previous had told her there was a few religious channels included in whatever cable package her uncle had, until either Lemy would get up or Lincoln would return. The second came first. He only gave her a brief greeting before disappearing to shower. When he came back to the living room refreshed minutes later and sat in his desk chair, he did not spin it around to the drawings scattered across the work station. Instead, he smiled at his niece.

"So Lacy told me something before I dropped her off." He informed her.

"Did she?" Lyra turned the tv volume down.

"Yeah." He was still smiling. "And she said you're the one who encouraged her." So Lacy had told him, and apparently a little about the talk the two girls had had.

"About being a father figure?" She figured she should make sure they were on the subject. He nodded and smiled a little wider. There was something different about it, not the reassuring or amused kind they'd seen him make the last few days. This one seemed giddy. He was happy about it, maybe even bragging.

"Well, you deserved it." She said earnestly. "You're stepping into a role for Lacy and the others that isn't easy. One that you really don't have an obligation to."

"Yeah…well…" He seemed embarrassed. "I was there when most of you guys were born. I saw you guys grow up. To be honest, at first it was like having more little sisters." His expression changed as he said that, looking less cheerful. "I mean, I have no problem with it." He said at last. "They all need someone like that in their lives."

"They do. But taking up the responsibilities left by men of weaker strength is still very admirable." Aunt Leni may have been the kindest soul in the world despite her…being ditzy, and Aunt Lori had a good work ethic despite her slightly flawed home life, but Lyra was willing to say her uncle was the most respectable of her family she knew. "You're a very good man."

"Yeah…" He agreed quietly.

"Do your sisters ever thank you?" Lyra realized that was probably rude to ask, but she was curious. She was trying to find something redeemable from them in this whole arrangement, otherwise she'd go on just believing they were using their brother.

"Oh yeah, yeah." He nodded. "They're all really grateful. I get Lynn probably doesn't look like it, but she's very…uh…"

"Not good with words?" Lyra guessed.

"Yeah!" He nodded enthusiastically. "That."

There was silence for a moment.

"Can I…ask you something?" Lyra approached tepidly. When she got a confirmation, she went on. "You think Lacy, Liby, and Lupa need a surrogate parent in their lives." He nodded. "You think Lemy and me do too?"

"Well…" He responded awkwardly. "That's not the ONLY reason I've been nice to you both, if that's what you're thinking. I wanted to see you guys. I haven't seen you since you were a little girl and I never met Lemy. That's mainly why I asked Luna if you guys could stay."

"Wait, you asked our mother if we could stay here?" Lyra asked. He nodded, and she felt herself go pink in the face. Their uncle had gone out of his way for them, something she couldn't recall any of her aunts ever doing. It was always "I asked your aunt and she said you dudes can bunk with them for a while". And just by how much he'd been trying to do things with them their brief time here. He had enthusiasm only matched by their mother. It suddenly made more sense.

"I see…" Lyra finally said. "Thank you. That means a lot to me…And I'm sure Lemy too." Her uncle regained some of the happiness in his expression.

"I hope you don't find it weird or anything." He offered.

"No, no." Lyra shook her head. "Mom told me the type of man you are, and I've seen it myself: you like to help your family. There's nothing at all wrong with that." She paused for a moment; what she was about to say may not have been nice, but it was honest. "I don't think we need it, but I'm still grateful you'd try."

"You are older than the others." Her uncle recognized. "You…found a way to deal with it on your own?" He asked, looking a little worried.

"Yes." She didn't have the same good fortunate as her cousins, but she'd managed in her own way. "Even if both our fathers are gone and mom isn't around very often, Lemy and me have enough guidance in life. I have the Word of God. And even if he doesn't realize it, Lemy has me." Her uncle leaned back in his chair with his eyes closed as she finished and was silent for a few moments.

"Both?" He said questioningly as he opened his eyes and sat back up. "What do you mean 'both'?"

"Hmm?" Lyra was confused two at first. "Lemy and me have different fathers." Now her uncle looked confused and shook his head.

"No, no. That can't be right. What gave you an idea like that?" He asked.

"Because despite my mother's flaws, I don't think she's stupid enough to have gone back to the same person who left her a single mother and let them do it again." Now her uncle looked extremely uncomfortable, and Lyra realized she'd overstepped her bounds. Her uncle was just trying to defend his sister's reputation. "I'm sorry." She apologized. "I shouldn't have said that about my own mother."

"It's…fine." Lincoln mumbled. "It's fine." He repeated in a louder voice. "It was a stupid question." He admitted. Silence reigned between them.

"She always told me she didn't know." Lyra revealed.

"Yeah. She told our parents the same thing." Her uncle confirmed.

"It's not a big deal to me." Lyra informed him. "Lemy's still my brother and our mom is still our mom. Whoever those two men are, I keep them in my prayers and keep living my life. They're not worth burdening myself over."

"That's good." Lincoln nodded. "Luna's a good mom to you guys though, right?"

That wasn't a subject Lyra wanted to discuss. But the two had both been forthcoming so far in this conversation. And her uncle was clearly asking it out of concern for their well being…

"She's not perfect…but she tries." Lyra couldn't bring herself to say 'yes'.

"Well, that's any parent." He told her. "But it's Luna." He smiled a bit. "She was always the cool big sister to us. She has to be a cool mom too, right?" 'Cool'? Lyra wasn't sure how to respond to that. When that became clear, her uncle asked a different question.

"Well, what kind of stuff do you guys do? You ever go to her shows?"

"No, she plays at night." Lyra told him.

"So you guys can spend the day together? That's not so bad." He thought out loud.

"Lemy, you need to go to sleep." She finally spoke up after her the five-year-old sat up for the fourth time. The jumped when he realized he was caught and got back under the covers.

"When's mom coming home?" He asked.

"She'll be home later. Go to sleep." She pulled him over to her. He still tried in vain for another two hours to stay awake before giving in to sleep. It would still take him a few weeks before he got used to mom not putting him to bed.

"I guess not." Lyra dismissed the flashback. She thought for a moment. "Did mom smoke when she was teenager?" She asked.

"Huh?" Lincoln was surprised by the sudden question. "She did, but she quit. Why?"

"I just found out she does last year." She told him. "We were at a rest stop and mom told me to go wait on the bus. I went to look for her later and found her smoking. She was trying to hide the fact from us." Lyra was pretty impressed she had done it so well; she never found any on her mother when she came home passed out. "Just something I remembered."

"Luna mentioned you and her have problems getting along." He told her, and Lyra was genuinely shocked. She didn't know her mother even recognized her daughter's disapproval, let alone thought to mention it to family.

"Yes." Lyra admittedly defensively. "I have a few issues with my mother. Justified issues." She added. Lincoln didn't look accusing. Actually, he was nodding.

"Yeah, Lacy, Liby, and Lupa like to vent to me about their moms too." He told her. "What's the deal with Luna?" This conversation had gone nothing like Lyra anticipated when it first started. Yet, for some reason, she kept talking.

"She comes home late and in a mess a lot." Her uncle nodded.

"Yeah. All of us used to have to sneak her in and hidden from our parents." He told her. "Lot of fun."

"Picking your mother off the floor and putting her in bed isn't fun." Lyra wasn't amused he thought it worth reminiscing.

"Right, right." Lincoln nodded. "Sorry." Lyra took a moment to compose herself before she went on.

"Remember what I said earlier? About Lemy having me? I've done so much to help raise him. I've helped him with his homeschooling. I've taught him how to behave. I feed him most days. I have to help raise him because she'd too busy."

"Well, what's the problem with that?" Her uncle asked. "When we were kids we always helped raise whoever was younger than us."

"There were eleven of you." Lyra retorted. "Your parents worked heard to provide for all of you. There's only Lemy and me and mom's rich. There should be no reason I've had to do as much as I have. I've probably done more then she ever has." Lyra realized how worked up she has getting and stopped to calm down, her hand drifting towards her necklace. The same one her mother had got her.

"Well…" Lincoln looked sympathetic and understanding, not at all upset his sister was getting badmouthed. "No parent is perfect. Ours weren't. Your cousins' aren't. Luna won't be…but she loves you guys. You love her too, don't you?" He looked at her necklace. "The Bible says to love your parents unconditionally, doesn't it?"

That wasn't exactly true. There were passages about respecting your parents, but there was one from the Gospel of Matthew that said to love God more than your own family. Lyra knew that's what it said, but…

"I love my mother." She told her uncle. "I'm not going to discard all the good things she's done for us. But I'm not going to forgive her for not being a better parent." Her uncle nodded approvingly.

"Have you tried talking to her about any of this?" Lyra shook her head.

"She's too set in her ways." She dismissed. Her mother had always disregarded her when she talked about the evils of alcohol and partying. She had no reason to think that'd change.

"I don't know." Her uncle looked unconvinced. "I think she'd listen." He said earnestly.

"Well…" Lyra conceded. "I may next time I see her." She had no idea how THAT might go. "Thank you." She told her uncle. "I really appreciated this conversation." She thought for a moment before standing up and going over to give her uncle a hug.

"That's always what I've been here for." He returned it.

"Excuse me." She stood up and started walking towards to hallway. Aside from a bathroom break, she just wanted a moment or two to collect her thoughts. This wasn't how she'd expected her morning to go.

Lyra stopped dead in her tracks when she discovered someone was standing in the hallway glaring at her, and her eyes went wide when she realized the conversation she'd had with her uncle had been overheard by the last person she wanted.

"Lemy?!" She whispered, panicked.