Next of Kin

Chloe leaves the supermarket, trying and failing not to resent all the picture-perfect families she notices. Since she’s broke, she uses her expired student ID to get on the bus and arrives at the hospital to find Odette (the social worker who’s helped Chloe’s mom through the years) waiting. Chloe’s mom is in a bad place, and the baby—a girl—is in intensive care. Chloe dreads seeing her mom, but the dread is tempered by the joy that she has a sister.

Chloe barely recognizes her mom, whose hair is now a different color and whose face is lined with wrinkles and dry skin. However, how her mom switches between belittling and being apologetic is all too familiar. Chloe agrees to take the baby on the stipulation her mom gives up all custody rights. Her mom quietly agrees, and Chloe leaves with the parting words, “I really hope things turn around for you” (18).

Chloe and Odette go to intensive care, where Calvin, the baby’s nurse, who’s about Chloe’s age, explains the baby is doing well despite everything. As Chloe watches the tiny baby, the perfect name comes to her—Willow. Chloe knows she can’t lose her sister, though she doubts she’ll be allowed custody since she lives alone and has no money. Odette promises to do everything she can to help, and that no matter what, “we do our best” (26).

Chloe passes the psych evaluation, living space, and background check to be Willow’s caregiver, but as expected, her income and savings aren’t adequate. Rachel, another social worker, proposes the new Team Up program, in which prospective caregivers are paired with people who need help in a given area. In this case, a guy named Warren passed everything but the living space test, as he only has a one-bedroom apartment and requires a second bedroom to become a caregiver for Luke. Chloe’s former roommates left her with their three-bedroom apartment close to Luke’s school, making Warren and Chloe a perfect possible team.

Chloe is concerned about living with a guy she doesn’t know, but Warren’s situation, coupled with wanting to care for Willow, tugs at her heart. The Team Up program would last five months until cases were reviewed, and despite her reservations, Chloe agrees because “it’s only until January. How hard could it be?” (32).

On the day Warren is supposed to see Chloe’s apartment, he’s late, and Chloe thinks that “he better be pulling a car off an old lady or rescuing a cat from a tree” (33). When he does arrive, he parks in a no-parking zone and blows right past her to buzz her apartment, only to realize she’s the person he’s looking for. The visit is awkward and tense, and Chloe is annoyed with how patronizing Warren seems to be. Warren signs to Chloe, expecting nothing, and is surprised when she responds in ASL—having learned it because her adoptive father is deaf. At this, Warren agrees the partnership will work and leaves.

On move-in day, Chloe stays out of the way while Warren and his friend bring stuff in. Finally, she has to go to the bathroom, which is by the apartment door, and when she gets there, Warren’s friend opens the door into her face, causing her nose to bleed. Warren is surprisingly concerned and gentle, looking her over, but Chloe is still mortified. After Warren’s friend leaves, Warren apologizes for him. Chloe shrugs it off and plays down how sore her nose is, to which Warren asks, “When did you start making your feelings smaller for other people’s benefit?” (45). Chloe says she isn’t, though she realizes she was.

Chloe comes home late from the hospital to find Warren relaxing and air-drumming along to music. When she sits with him, he tenses and insists she give him space because he doesn’t want to be her friend. He’s convinced he knows everything about her—that she had a privileged life and got to attend college. Chloe can’t believe his arrogant assumptions. She thinks about correcting him but decides not to, because she doesn’t owe him anything, which is freeing because she’s “had so many people expect so much of [her] for a long time” (50).

When Luke moves in, Chloe instantly likes his exuberant personality and easy relationship with Warren. Luke and Chloe prepare dinner together and discuss their families. Luke thinks Warren actually likes Chloe but hates that he has to live with her for Luke’s sake. Chloe reveals the truth about her mom and sister to Luke, and Luke reciprocates, explaining his mom died when he was young and his dad is rarely around. When Warren gets home, he takes a shower, which leaves Chloe thinking about what he looks like naked. The thoughts pass when he comes out and announces it’s almost bedtime. Luke cleans up his dinner and hugs Warren. Warren hesitates but hugs him back, and Chloe turns away because “this doesn’t seem like a moment Warren would want [her] to witness” (57).

The day Chloe brings Willow home from the hospital, Calvin comes in to say goodbye. Since Chloe doesn’t have a car, he offers to drive her home, making it clear he’s interested in her. At the apartment, Warren and Calvin stare each other down, and Chloe can’t help but think, “This is the part of West Side Story when they start snapping and walking toward each other” (61). Luke is excited to meet Willow and holds her until it’s time for a bottle. As Chloe gets the bottle ready, she wishes she had help.

Chloe barely sleeps the first two weeks Willow is home. The baby seems to hate everything but Chloe’s arms, and Chloe is so tired she gives the couch Willow’s bottle. Warren notices and offers to hold Willow so Chloe can shower and have a few minutes to herself. Afterward, she feels much more equipped to face the day and thinks, “I have my shit together, world. Look at me!” (69). On her way to the grocery store, she returns a call from Calvin, and the two make plans to hang out the following weekend.