“What?” I peek into the mirror, catching a dreadful look in her eyes.

“To be the auntie,” she snorts. “Since I will never be a mother I guess I have to settle for being the cool Auntie.”

“Thalia.”

“I'm fine, I like it.” she sniffs, and I feel something sink inside me. Shame? Regret? Sympathy? I don't know, it could be all. “Your brother was right, I don't deserve to be a mother but I'm good Auntie. This is my role in kids' lives, always the Auntie, never the Mom. ...