not for safe keeping

It was freaking weird how Audrey's Mom was with Kayla's new baby, or at least Audrey thought this. Her mom, Odile was the new caregiver. Evidently.

"You just wish she was your grand-baby." Audrey said it before she meant it. She was trying her best to see her mother more. Lots of times, she'd stop by at lunch. Usually, she brought lunch so her mother so her mother wouldn't have to worry about cooking.

Her mother only smiled as she held the baby in her arms so carefully.

"She looks so much like you and your sister," Odile just said.

"Sister?" Audrey cracked up. Was her mother going crazy? "What sister?"

"Oh..I meant Kayla." Her mother cleared her voice and went to put the baby to bed.

"You must need sleep, Mom." Audrey wondered if her Mom was over doing it, taking care of a newborn. It couldn't be easy.

Audrey set out their little feast, a soup she'd made and some cheese and crackers.

"I'm sorry..I haven't said anything." Her mother looked so mellow. She tried to put on a smile, sort of. She sat down and started the soup, but then put her spoon down and looked at Audrey. A sigh came over her as if she might be having heart palpitations.

Audrey squeezed her mother's hand.

"What is it?"

Odile gulped a wince, shook her head no.

"I don't know how to start." She winced hard.

Audrey was thinking the worst. Breast cancer. Dad having heart trouble. Audrey just knew it.

"I think you should know, that..that your father and I were practically teenagers when we met. My parents weren't fond of him." Odile pressed her lips tight.

"I know, I've heard the stories. Daddy was just a hippie until the Air Force turned him around." Audrey could hardly imagine her Dad all hair with a beard. He was completely not that way now. Besides, he was an accountant. He made good money.

"Still, when I got pregnant with your sister.."

Now Audrey was awake.

"What?" Audrey scowled a little. This was news. It was always her and then Luc. Always.

"Everyone thought it was best if..if Kayla was with my sister and her husband. My sister couldn't have children." Her mother explained.

"Mom, why are you telling me this now? Does Kayla even know? How could you keep a secret..like that?" Now Audrey wasn't hungry.

"I've waited years for them to tell her. But my sister wouldn't." Her mother sighed. "Because..she..she always thought she knew best."

"It figures." Audrey rolled her eyes. Kayla's family always thought they were better. To good for them. Here her Mom was, seeing to Kayla's baby and wouldn't take a dime for it. Audrey wondered how different Kayla would be if she would have been her older sister instead of just a cousin. They'd never really gotten a long. Now it all made sense. "This..is ... crazy." Audrey shook her head.

"Kayla is still family. My sister just didn't think it was a good idea to let Kayla know, especially, what we went through with you." Her mother told her.

"Now..you're saying, its my fault?" Audrey didn't mean to raise her voice. She wanted to get on the phone with Luc, right now. He needed to know. Especially, Kayla.

"Its their place to tell her." Her mother took Audrey's hand, but she jerked it back.

"No..it isn't. She's a grown woman. I would really want to know, especially, having her own daughter now. Mom, its just not right." Audrey winced.

"Oh, honey, please, don't say anything, will you?" Her mother begged.

"I dunno." This was just too big to keep to herself. "You know, I'm not good at keeping secrets."