"You're different. Calmer, and you've been smiling more."
"Are you calling me manic?"
"No, Little Bit, I'm just happy to see you with someone because it's been a long time."
"How d'you know I wasn't seeing someone in the interim?"
"Because I would have heard about it."
We laughed and then I asked, "Is that boy telling you my business?"
"Not unless I ask andthat boyis older than you by five minutes. You should have some respect."
When he stopped laughing, Garth went back into question mode. "So, is he treating you right?"
"Yeah, I can't complain."
"Good, because you deserve the best."
I nodded, but Mom had my mind in such a knot it was hard to fathom what permanence with any man would look like. My gaze fell on my suitcase and I sighed. This was going to be more complicated than I anticipated. What explanation would I give Daddy for walking out when I'd only been home for a couple of hours?
"What mad thing are you plotting in your head?" Garth asked.
I looked up at him, smiling. Two years between us or not, sometimes I thought Garth understood me better than my twin.
"You don't miss much, do you?"
"Not where you're concerned."
I didn't tell him what was on my mind, but I hugged him because I felt like it.
He rubbed my hair and I leaned against his shoulder, remembering the times he'd comforted me when nobody else could. There was something I wanted to ask him. I was ashamed to even think it but since I had, it was easier to put it in the open than have it worrying my brain.
"D'you like Kofi?"
"He seems quiet. Thoughtful. And funny. I can't find a reason not to like him yet."
Eyeballing him, I asked, "His race doesn't matter to you?"
Garth was about to smile. I saw it, but he realized I was serious and changed his mind. He rubbed his hair, frowning. "Why would his race be an issue?"
"It matters to Mom."
"I'm sure you're wrong. You know how protective she is."
"You can't be that blind. Surely—"
"If she was like that, she'd have a problem with Bryan and Vance, plus Anna-Lise—who, in case you forgot—I plan to marry. You may not have noticed, but we're not in the dark ages."
"And I'm telling you our mother has a problem with Kofi because of who he is and where he's from."
Laughter was the last thing I expected from Garth and it annoyed me. Still chuckling, he said, "I'm sorry, Sis. What you're suggesting is beyond ridiculous."
"Well, you never noticed because neither Bryan nor Vance ever tried putting their hands on me."
My words erased Garth's smile and he tried hugging me again. "Come on, Gina. You're being unfair. But for a splash of Chinese genes, we're no different from them."
"Tell that to your mother." Arms folded, I kept on grousing. "I'm basing this on the things she said to me a few moments ago."
