True Colors

Vivi Ann hated how bitter Aurora had become since her divorce, but it was understandable. Love could reduce you to rubble; lost love most of all.

“You found true love, Vivi Ann,” Winona said, looking up finally. “You and Dallas gave up everything for each other.”

“Winona,” Aurora said quietly, “what are you doing? Are you drunk? We don’t talk about—”

“I know,” Winona said. “We pretend he was never here, never a part of us. When we see Vivi Ann struggling, we ask about the barn or tell her about the new book we’re reading. When we see Noah bruised and bloodied for being Dallas’s son, we talk to him about self-control and sticks and stones that we pretend can’t break our bones. But they can, can’t they, Vivi? Why don’t we ever talk about that?”

“You’re too late, Win,” Vivi Ann said, striving to keep her voice steady.

“Definitely,” Aurora said. “Bones are supposed to stay buried.”

“But what if the person isn’t dead? Should he stay buried then?” Winona asked.

“Let it go, Win,” Vivi Ann said. “Whatever your new obsession is, drop it. I forgave you a long time ago, if that’s what this is about.”

“I know you did,” Winona said. “I don’t think I realized how generous that forgiveness was.”

“Until you fell in love?” Vivi Ann said, understanding now. Her sister had finally fallen in love, and with that emotion came a better understanding of how deeply Vivi Ann had been hurt.

Winona took a deep breath. “Until I went to—”

Behind them, the screen door banged open. “The oven is beeping, Mom,” Noah said.

Vivi Ann got quickly to her feet, thankful for the distraction. “Thanks, Noah. Okay, everyone to the table.” She hurried into the kitchen and got everything organized—the salad, the cornbread muffins, the potpies.

Right on time, she served dinner and took her seat.

At the head of the table, Dad bowed his head in prayer, and each of them followed suit, intoning the familiar words of faith and gratitude.

It wasn’t until the prayer was over and Vivi Ann opened her eyes that she noticed Winona, standing off to the left, holding a sheaf of papers to her chest.

“Don’t make us listen to your speech again,” Aurora said. “It’s my birthday dinner.”

Winona moved forward awkwardly; it was almost as if she’d been pushed. “I went to the prison last week and saw Dallas.”

The room went silent, except for Noah, who said, “What?” in a loud voice.

Winona handed Vivi Ann the papers. “It’s public record now. I filed at the courthouse on Friday.”

Vivi Ann’s hands were shaking as she read the document. “A petition to retest the DNA found at the crime scene.”

“He agreed to the test,” Winona said.

Vivi Ann looked at her son, saw the way he was smiling, and she wanted to cry.

“I knew it!” Noah said. “How long will it be before he can come home?”

Vivi Ann pushed her chair back and got to her feet. “You think he’s innocent, Winona? Now? You didn’t say a thing when it mattered.” Her voice broke and she stumbled backward.

Dad banged his palm on the table so hard the silverware and dishes rattled. “Stop it, Winona.”

“Shut up,” Aurora yelled at her father. She looked up at Winona. “Are you saying we were wrong?”

Winona looked at Vivi Ann. “Not all of us. She knew.”

“Do you know how many times I heard about motions or tests or petitions that would save him? I can’t take it all again. Tell her, Aurora. Tell her to back off before Noah gets hurt.”

“You can’t mean that, Mom.”