I wipe my clammy hands on my jeans before I step closer to Mom and kiss her cheek. “I’ve got a surprise for the three of you.” I move to the front of the hall and usher them over until they are close. “Welcome to...” I pull the blanket down, and as it falls, it reveals a silver plaque engraved with “Misty’s Safe Haven.”
Mom’s shaky hands go to her mouth as Dad’s lip trembles.
“It’s a safe haven for women and children where we’ll provide them with the resources they need to get their lives back on track.”
It’s Dad who rushes to me and hugs me tight. “I’m so very proud of you,” he whispers into my ear. He sniffles and pulls back, wiping his now glassy eyes.
“That’s Mom’s name,” Avyanna says as she inspects it. She steps closer, looking at the smaller writing at the bottom. “In loving memory of Misty Pratt, a sister, a daughter, a mother, and a best friend. Her life a beautiful memory that will never be forgotten,” she reads out, then peers up at me. “This is for Mom?”
“Yes, we created this to honor her.” Maybe, if Misty had something like this to turn to, to get anonymous advice or help, things would have been different.
Viper appears. “Everything is ready.”
“Thank you,” I reply.
“Dad, Dad,” Avyanna says. “Are you okay? Don’t cry.” She wraps her arms around her dad.
He mouths “Thank you” to me. I smile back, glad that they’re happy.
I grasp Mom’s hand in mine. “Let’s take the tour. Viper, did you want to do the honors?”
His face, if possible, brightens more. He gestures broadly at the center. “Welcome, follow me...”
Twenty-Three
The Brightest Star
Zara
Eight months later
It’sMisty’s anniversary again, and it’s bittersweet. We go to visit her often, but today is different. I walk into the house with a bunch of bright-yellow sunflowers and put my keys and bag down on the table by the entrance.
This anniversary differs from others. No more lies, no more nightmares, no more cuts. When she visits me in my dreams, I still see her face and her beautiful blonde hair and zest for life, which I see in her daughter too.
When I go out into the backyard, the sight before me makes me laugh. Viper and Avyanna are dancing to “You Can Do It” by Ice Cube. They roll their bodies from left to right in unison with the lyrics and I smile in amusement, thinking Misty would do the same with them if she were here.
When Avyanna looks up at me, she beams. “Viper’s teaching me the dance.”
“Is he now?” I dare a peek at Kane, who rolls his eyes, but there’s a smirk on his lips.
“She has potential,” Viper chimes in.
“Since when are you a dance teacher?” Axle yells out.
Noting the swearing and offensive language of the song, I ask, “Where can I change the music?”
“It’s connected to my phone,” Twitch answers, phone in hand.
“Can you change it... to something more appropriate,” I say as I look at Avyanna.
Viper scoffs. “Oh please, she hears swearing all the time.”
I try my best to stifle a laugh while two arms come around me, hugging me and pulling me into a broad chest. I turn to see Knox giving me one of his devastating smiles.
“He has a point,” he says into my ear.
Avyanna runs to me and puts her arms around my waist so that I’m sandwiched between the two of them. I have to lift the flowers above Avyanna’s head so they don’t get crushed.
