Winona imagined herself taking the risk, asking him out; she couldn’t help but think about the other time, when she hadn’t been brave enough to confront Vivi Ann with her longings, and how that lie of omission had changed everything between them, made their relationship fragile.
Winona was doing that again, wasn’t she? Although her motives were better, she was still hiding a truth from her sister. “You know I love you, Vivi, right? I would never want to hurt you again.”
“I know that. And believe me, nothing about you and Luke can hurt me.”
Winona sat up. “About Dallas—”
Aurora elbowed her. “Enough about men. This is a sisters’ night.” She poured three more Irish coffees from the thermos and then held out her mug. “To us,” she said, and they drank.
In the long silence that followed, as they sat there, leaned against each other, on this blanket that had once graced their grandmother’s bed, Winona said, “Maybe we should replant Mom’s garden.”
“Yeah,” Aurora and Vivi Ann said at the same time, their voices blending together in the night. “It’s time,” one of them said; Winona wasn’t even sure which one had spoken, but she nodded just the same.
“It’s time.”
I NEVER KNEW LIFE COULD CHANGE SO FAST!!!!
I have to put my pen down for a second. My hand is actually shaking. Okay, here’s what happened. I’m going to write it all down so I NEVER FORGET A SECOND.
Yesterday was a regular, boring old school day and Mom woke me up early. Lucky me. We were in the kitchen, eating breakfast when Aunt Winona walked into our house. She didn’t knock or anything. She just said I need my nephew for the day.
But it’s a school day, my mom said, and the Halloween carnival is in two days. I need his help on a thousand things.
Please Aunt Winona said. I’ll owe you one. Mom did her famous eye roll and said you already owe me a ton, go ahead and take him. He’s skipping all his classes anyway.
Just like that I was free. Aunt Winona looked at me and said go take a shower and put on pants that fit. I don’t want to see your underwear. I started to say no way but she gave me the hand and said Then stay here and go to school.
So I dressed nice.
We got in Aunt Winona’s car and drove away. All the way along the Canal I was asking where we were going and she wouldn’t tell me, but I could tell she wanted to. She was smiling big time.
I was so busy asking her that I didn’t notice when we got off the freeway. And then I saw the sign for the prison.
Are you kidding me? I said. Before I’d been laughing and poking her when I asked, but when I saw the sign it was like my blood froze.
I didn’t want to tell your mom, just in case something went wrong, Aunt Winona said. She gave me a Look. Things can always go wrong at the last minute. That’s one thing I’ve learned.
How? was all I could say.
I had the lab run more DNA tests and we found out who was really there that night at Cat’s house.
It wasn’t your dad, she said. So the prosecuting attorney joined in my motion to dismiss.
By tomorrow, she said, the newspapers will have the story, so I’m taking you to see him now before cameras will follow you around.
But what about mom? I asked.
Don’t worry about her, Aunt Winona said. Aurora is going to keep her busy all day and keep the ranch gate shut and unplug the phone. I don’t want your mom to know about this until he’s out. Just in case. She can’t take another disappointment.
We drove up to the prison and it looked like I remembered, all gray and ugly. At the parking lot, we stopped and got out. In the guard tower, a guy with a gun walked back and forth.
I forgot my student i.d. I said suddenly. Will they let me see him? Before Aunt Winona could answer, a buzzer sounded and the big black gates started to swing open.
And I could see him. My dad. He was walking out of prison with a huge guard beside him; he was wearing black Levi’s that were too big and a wrinkled black shirt. I couldn’t tell how long his hair was cuz it was in a ponytail.
I walked toward him, just staring at the face that was so much like mine.
Noah, he said, and I realized I’d never heard my dad’s voice before.