But that was Auggie’s.
That was Juno’s way of showing her mom that Auggie liked Juno. Mom didn’t have to worry about how he felt about Juno. He would be good for her, for her mom, for them.
And her dad was ruining it.
When she quit talking, Mr. Cisco said, “Okay, sweetheart, leave this to me.”
“Wh-what are you gonna do?”
“I don’t know yet, but like any complicated operation, it’s good to know all that’s happening so I can create an appropriate strategy.”
That sounded like hooey he said just so she wouldn’t be upset anymore.
“Dad’s acting funny, Mr. Cisco.”
“Hmm.”
“And he broke up with his girlfriend. I can tell.”
She could always tell when he was done with one of them, because her dad was on the phone even more than normal, finding another one.
But this time, he wasn’t on the phone or texting with that silly smile on his face.
This time was different.
And Juno didn’t like it.
“Juno, I want you to listen really close to me.”
“Okay.”
“Are you listening?”
Of course she was listening. What else would she be doing?
She tried not to sound mean when she said, “Yes.”
“Good. Because this is important,” he replied. “You see, there are some things in life that we can’t control. And some of those things are things we really want to control. They might even be the things we want to control most of all. But we just can’t. No matter how hard we try. The important part about this is realizing when that is and then stop trying. It takes a lot of energy to try to control things that are out of our control, and in the end, it’s wasted energy. But more, that energy can be directed at something that we can control. Are you with me?”
“I’m with you,” she told him.
And she was because that made a whole load of sense.
Mr. Cisco kept going.
“In this scenario, we cannot control your father. We don’t know what he’s thinking. What he wants. But we’re getting sidetracked. He isn’t our primary objective. Auggie was there tonight with your mom. That’s our primary objective. So that is what we focus on. Because another thing it’s important in life to always be certain to do, is take a moment to savor the victories. And right now, honey, you’ve had a victory. But you aren’t savoring.”
Okay, now he was losing her.
“What’s savoring?”
“Celebrating.”
Oh.
“I can’t celebrate, Mr. Cisco. I’m supposed to be sleeping.”
She heard him chuckle.
Then he said, “Yes, you should be sleeping, not worrying about this. Even so, take a minute tomorrow not to think of your dad going to your school tonight, but think about Auggie and your mom being there. Think about how it felt when you saw them walk in. Not the part where you were worried your dad was there. The part that’s just about your mom being with a good man you like for her. That’s not only a better thought, it’s what this is all about. Am I right?”
He was!
“Yeah,” she answered, grinning.
“Do you feel better?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she repeated.
“Good. Now don’t think of this. It takes up too much energy. You need that for school and to keep on top of our operation, the important parts of it. You with me?”
“I’m with you, Mr. Cisco.”
“All right, Juno. Goodnight, sweetheart. Sleep well.”
“Okay, ’bye.”
“Good-bye, Juno.”
She hung up and took another breath before she touched the button to make certain the phone didn’t make noise (the button was still in the position it was supposed to be, thank goodness, even though Mr. Cisco never phoned her, she had to be careful). Then she hid the phone between her mattress and the thing under it that wasn’t a mattress.
After that, she pulled the covers up to her neck and thought of her mom walking into the assembly room with Auggie, her mom’s hair curled in that special way she did it only when she was going out with her girls or when she came to one of Juno’s events or when they went to Christmas Eve services at the church.
But this time, she did it for Auggie.
And Auggie looked really nice in a black sweater and jeans. Juno had only ever seen him wearing t-shirts and stuff, except, of course, at Aunt Lottie and Mr. Mo’s wedding. He wore a special suit to that.
Mr. Cisco was right.
That was the important part.
That was where she should put her energy.
Because her mom and Auggie looked real good together.
And her mom looked happy.
Chapter Thirteen
Space
Pepper
Late the next morning after my El Tejado date with Auggie, I walked in the back door to Smithie’s in order to get some rehearsal in.
And I did this with my head bent to my phone.
This was because the date hadn’t really ended.
It had gone on via text.
It started with a message from me approximately one minute after I lost sight of Auggie’s SUV down my street: