Her new strategy was working. Two weeks in and that was all Idina had to say. Aaron questioned her on it, but even he had to admit that it was nicer if she wasn't blowing up at Idina.

They had small talk that meant nothing, though each interaction got longer as the days went on. 

They fell into a routine once Erika's results had come it. The school wanted her to redo tenth grade, not because of the results but because she had no finished it. Idina wanted to fight it initially, but theoretically, it gave them an extra year together so she took it. She was settling for small victories in hopes that they would amount to something.

Aaron and Idina were going to foster parent support groups while Erika was taking weekly therapy sessions. Everyone agreed that there was nothing they could do to convince Erika that they would be her forever exce[t being her forever family. And that would take nothing but time. They just had to wait it out. It might take forever, but eventually, the message would stick through their actions.

Erika spent less and less time secluded in her room. She would now openly do her homework at the kitchen counter with Idina working on the other end. They rarely said anything to each other during that time.

Idina caught her more and more often reading the books she had brought up.

Erika was starting to develop tastes. She loved fantasy and historical fiction mostly. She wasn't keen on contemporary romances or contemporary anything. The more removed it was the better.

Idina was thinking of getting her a Kindle. All she needed was an excuse the give it to her. They were on okay terms now, but not good enough for random gifts. A Kindle would let her read much more and she could buy cheap books. Idina could give her an Amazon gift card and she could use it to buy whatever she liked.

She picked Erika up and dropped her off every day. She did not want her to take the bus. Erika did not question it. There were some perks, she guessed, to their relationship.

She had not received another text from the unknown number. She wasn't sure if she was grateful or not. The worry was killing her. Aaron knew something was off, and she was sure Erika was thinking that. She tried to play it off that she was missing Walker, but neither of them bought it.

She heard the bell ring and she started looking out for Erika. Teens started flocking to the school busses, all dressed in identical uniforms. 

She flinched as the door opened.

"I didn't see you come up," she said.

"Oh, uh, sorry," Erika said as she tossed her backpack into the back seat.

"Walker's coming back for the next few weeks."

"Yeah, I know." She sat cross-legged and started reading her book.

"Taye should be dropping him off tonight. He has to fly across the country and his flight leaves at nine." Idina pulled out of the spot. "What are you reading?"

"Howards End by EM Forester."

"Any good?"

"Actually, yes, I'm enjoying it."

"Tell me about it," Idina said as she navigated the parking lot.

"It's about two families, the Schlegel sisters and their new neighbours the Wilcoxes and it's a lot of drama around the Wilcoxes's estate Howards End. And other drama too. It's all early nineteen ten's aristocrat period drama."

"Doesn't sound that interesting," Idina said.

"I know," she chuckled, "but I swear it's good."

"Better than Far From the Madding Crowd?" It was currently her favourite read.

"Yes."

"I might pick it up when you're done then," she said. It was amazing watching her learn what she likes and doesn't like. They were trying different foods every night, even things neither of them had ever heard about before. So far seafood had been a consistent miss, but Erika still ate it when it was presented to her. However, they were willing to take it off the menu for her.

"Okay," Erika said cheerily. No remarks like "it's your book." 

"Also, Aaron and I were thinking that the four of us should go out for supper tomorrow. If you're not overworked, that is."

"That's fine with me."

"And my sister Cara will joining us," Idina added. She prepared herself for what would come next.

She and Aaron had been going to the foster parent therapy groups while Erika attended her sessions. They confirmed everything they already knew. Erika was acting agreeably, that would go away as soon as it started to get serious. 

"Because she's coming to Walker's basketball game," Idina continued. "And I know you've got that group project so you won't be at the game, but she wants to meet you all the same and I figured a celebratory or make-up supper would be a good idea."

Erika was silent. "Alright, fine," she huffed after a moment.

"Could you help me make some brownies before Walker gets here?" Idina asked.

"I have an essay due tonight," Erika said, shutting her down.

"Okay, no worries."

She pulled up in the driveway. Erika grabbed her bag and went inside. She went up to her room to change before coming down to work on her essay.

Aaron greeted Idina with a kiss and a smile. He was home from work early.

Around six-thirty, the doorbell rang. Idina opened it to find Taye and Walker standing outside.

"Hey there, little man!" she exclaimed, crouching down to pick Walker up.

He giggled and squealed. "Hi, mommy!"

"Thanks," she said to Taye. 

Taye was looking past her to where Erika was sitting, minding her own business.

"That's-" he started.

"That's Erika!" Walker exclaimed. "Erika!" he called.

She looked over.

"This is my dad," he informed her.

She gave a sheepish wave from the table but didn't move.

"You should probably go," Idina said. He was warming up to the idea of Erika but still wasn't set. She did think that he saw how much Walker liked her and was letting it go for him.

"Bye," he said.

Idina closed the door.

The four of them sat down for supper. Walker talked the entire time about the stuff he did with his dad and what movies they saw and the basketball game Taye had taken him to see. Erika was quiet as usual. Both Aaron and Idina were happy to have the child back.

~~~~~

That Saturday, after Walker's game, Idina, Aaron, her sister, and her son all went back to Idina's place. Erika was still out at the library, working on her group project. They had supper reservations in two hours. It was nowhere fancy, but still a nice place for a family catch-up.

"Cara," Idina said as they were about to leave, "I know I've said this a million times but-"

"Be gentle, don't ask a lot of questions, I know Idina," her sister replied. "Dee, it's amazing you're doing this. I just want to meet my niece."

"She's not technically my daughter yet."

"But I can tell she is to you Dee, and that's all that matters to me."

Idina hugged her sister.

"Ready to go?" Aaron asked, coming down the stairs with Walker.

"Yup," she replied, taking Walker's hand and heading to the door. She slipped her hand into Aaron's as they headed to the car. 

Cara, Aaron, and Walker would go in Cara's car while Idina went to pick Erika up. She gave her boys a kiss before she left them with her sister.

"Take good care of my men," she teased.

Cara winked as she stepped into the car.

Idina drove to the library as it started to rain. Erika was waiting outside holding some papers over her head though it was only sprinkling. The sun was already starting to set and it was getting dark.

"Hey," Idina said as Erika got in.

"Hey," she replied.

"I got an email from the school today, there's cheerleading tryout next weekend," Idina said. She was trying to get Erika into something extra extracurricular. Her therapist thought it might be a good idea.

"No." She stated it so firmly Idina flinched.

"It's just cheerleading," Idina said calmly.

"No," Erika said again, a bit softer this time.

"Why not?" Idina asked. She knew she'd struck a nerve. "Is it someone already on the team?"

"No," she replied. "I do not want to do cheerleading."

"That's fine. There's always the swim team or clubs."

"I'm really not that interested in joining anything," she said.

"I know," replied Idina. "I just want you to have some fun." What she really wanted was for Erika to make some friends. Some sort of attachment. "How's the project going?'

"Well, I guess. One guy won't show up and none of us can get in contact with him so we're just moving on at this point."

"Who is he? Maybe I can call his mom," Idina said. This was a small town when it came to it.

"I'm not getting used to that anytime soon," Erika replied, making Idina chuckle. "If he doesn't want to do the work I don't want him working on it."

"But then he'll get credit for nothing," argued Idina.

"Or he fails."

"I guess there's that."

Idina pulled into the restaurant. They walked in. Aaron, Walker, and Cara were already sitting at a large round table and waved them over. 

Cara got up and pulled a chair out for Erika. "Nice to meet you," she said extending a hand. "I'm Cara."

"Erika," the girl said, shaking Cara's hand cordially with a small smile.

"Idina told me a lot about you," she continued as everyone sat down.

"Me too!" Walker chimed in. "She can cook batter than mom, and she knows that shelled eggs explode in the microwave and she's better at math."

Idina blushed. "I know that shelled eggs explode in the microwave," she stated. She knew it now.

Cara chuckled. "That's a long list of accomplishments," she said, looking over to Erika. 

"I guess so," the girl replied, unsure what else to say.

"My team won," Walker said.

"Good for you," Erika said with a wide smile.

"Yup and mommy says I can have double ice cream."

"You deserve it," she replied. 

A waiter came and handed everyone menus as a family with a mother and two children sat down in the booth behind Idina and Erika.

"Can I start you off with drinks?" the waiter asked.

"Coka cola please," Walker said without asking permission. The waiter looked over to the adults for confirmation before he wrote it down. 

"What about you?" he asked turning to Erika.

"Ice tea please," she said, much to Idina's delight. She was finally showing interest in something.

Idina ordered water while Aaron and Cara opted for wine.

Idina's phone buzzed. She checked it quickly to make sure it wasn't important. The unknown number had texted her.

Order the beef stroganoff, it read.

Idina gulped. 

Another text came in. It's to die for.

Wouldn't want to kill over it.

She looked around. No one was watching her. Cara and Erika were discussing Howards End and Walker was playing tic tac toe with Aaron.

ok, she texted back. Should she text back?

I'll know if you don't, came the reply.

She was suddenly suspicious of everyone around her. There was a man the far corner on his phone, a woman only a few tables away, children with Ipads and tablets, someone with a laptop. It could be anyone. They didn't even have to be here. People obviously noticed them. It could be all over the internet right now that she was eating here.

"What's wrong?" Aaron asked. The whole table was now looking at her.

"Nothing," she replied.

"You're as white as a ghost," he argued.

"Just hungry," she said. "I feel as if I haven't eaten all day."

"That's because you haven't," Cara scolded. "Seriously Dee, you're the older one yet I'm always taking care of you."

"And I love you for it," Idina replied putting on a fake smile. 

Eventually, the waiter came back and Idina ordered the stroganoff. She slipped her phone into her bag as she did so, not wanted to see whatever texts came next if any did. She wanted to focus on this time with her family.

The waiter went to the table behind her and asked what he could get them. The boy ordered something but was cut off by the mother who told simply that he had to keep it under twenty dollars total.

When the girl asked for the same thing, she had no objections.

"Why does she get it?" the boy asked.

"Because you're not my kid," she said. "I'm opening up my home to you, but I don't have enough money for you to eat that much. I've been telling you this for months."

Idina glanced behind and the boy was starting to tear up. The woman continued to scold him, getting progressively louder as the restaurant grew silent.

"I have to go the bathroom," Erika said abruptly, getting up quickly and rushing away in the wrong direction. She oriented herself quickly and disappeared down a hallway.

"Hey," Aaron said, leaning closer to the group. "I'll pay for whatever he wants to eat."

"Oh you don't have to," the woman said.

"Yes, I do." He turned to the boy. "Order whatever you want." Then to the waiter: "Give me the bill for it."

"Isn't that nice," the woman said, "I guess you can go over twenty now." Idina felt sick.

But Aaron wasn't done. "When you adopt a child," he continued, "that kid is yours. You are responsible for them."

"I haven't adopted him," she said flatly.

"It doesn't matter," he continued lecturing her. Idina swelled with pride. She felt like her heart was going to burst.  "My kids aren't biologically mine, but I'd go to hell and back for them and I'd certainly never show favouritism to either of them because of their relationship to me."

"Well, we aren't all privileged enough. And besides, my daughter needs to know that she's irreplaceable. You said so yourself: you have no biological children. You might change your mind when you do."

"If you view your child as a paycheck, you don't deserve to have them," he continued. "And if you view your son as replaceable, how do you think your daughter sees you? If you send him back, what's to stop from thinking you'll send her away too?"

"She knows she's more important," the woman explained.

"Mommy, what going on?" Walker whispered.

She hushed him.

The woman turned to the waiter who was a teenager, too underpaid and underequipped to deal with this. "These people are bothering me," she said. "Can we be seated elsewhere, or could you make them leave?"

The teen stammered something.

"You upset my daughter first," Aaron said, visibly annoyed. 

Idina finally piped up. "I have a biological kid and I love both my children the same," she said.

"Well aren't you a saint!" the woman exclaimed. She turned back to the waiter. "Could we pleased be moved? I don't appreciate being questioned on my parenting."

"Uh," the teen stammered. "We're very full, but I'll get the manager and see if something can be arranged."

"Sorry," Idina mouthed as he passed by her. She needed to check on Erika. She got up.

"Where are you going?" Walker asked.

"I'm going to the bathroom," she said. 

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to the bathroom."

"Walker," Aaron said, "this isn't the place, we'll explain it later."

"But I want to know now," he huffed crossing his arms.

Aaron turned to his wife. "I'll talk to Walker, you take care of Erika." 

She nodded and went to the bathroom.

Idina formed hat she was going to say in her head. This territory involved emotions. They were inherently linked. She needed to tread carefully. Once she was sure she had something, she opened the door.

Erika was leaving her back against the wall, scowling.

"You've been in here a while," she said. It breached the subject through subtext, but at the same time, it was pure and simple facts. It let Erika choose which way the conversation would go.

Erika stood there in silence. Whether she was contemplating what to say or waiting to see what Idina did, the celebrity was not sure.

"I did not want to listen to that," Erika said after a minute. "Sorry for ruining the dinner. I'm fine."

She wasn't fine. She was tense. Her sentences were short and forces. But Idina conceded. 

"I can stay here with you till it's over," Idina offered.

"No, you should spend time with your sister. You never know how much time you'll get."

"I'd argue the same for us," Idina said. "And I signed a contract saying I'd take care fo you, and if that involves staying here while Aaron gets into a fistfight with that woman, I'll gladly miss it."

"Really?" she asked.

"No, but if it happened I won't complain about missing it."

Idina wasn't entirely sure what happened next, but in a few seconds she had bridged the gap between them and they were sitting on the floor, knees pulled up and backs against the wall. Erika's head rested on her shoulder. It was silent other than the occasional stomach growl.

"I'm hungry," Idina complained when it happened again.

Erika didn't say anything in reply, but then she didn't say anything snarky in protest either. 

They sat there until Cara came to fetch them.