Her sigh was audible over the phone. “No, she didn’t. She called it off two days before.”
“Shecalled it off.”
“Yes, she did.”
“Why?” His question was hardly more than a breath.
“You’d have to ask her that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me, Dina?”
“Oscar.”
“What?”
She sighed again. “Nothing. I suppose you’re happy about it.”
“Well, of course I’m— Well, I don’t know. I’m still a little shocked. You don’t have any idea what happened? He didn’t—doanything to her, did he? Cheat on her? Or—or anything else?”
“Not that I know of. I think she just realized it was a mistake. Oscar…”
There was silence for a moment. Another text notification came in, but he didn’t look just yet.
“What, Dina?”
“Just… I don’t want to see you get hurt again, Scary.”
Her use of the nickname she’d adopted when she was too little to say “Oscar” made him smile a little. “I’m a big boy, little sis. I can take care of myself.” He drew in a breath, still struggling to make sense of everything, still pacing—as if that would somehow clear his mind. “How’s Bethany? Everything going all right with the two of you?”
“Everything’s great—though I have to admit, she was pretty disappointed she wasn’t able to be my date for the wedding after all. We were sort of looking forward to making a statement, too. She said she couldn’t wait to see me in a skirt, since I was going to be a bridesmaid. But thank goodness I didn’t end up having to wear that awful dress Marcie picked out.And don’t you ever tell Marcie I said that!” she added fiercely.
Oscar laughed because she made a joke, but he was surprised that Marcie had insisted Dina wear a dress. “If I had known you were going to wear a skirt, I might’ve come just to see that. The last time I saw you in a dress was your first communion.”
“Shut up,” she said, laughing. “Tell you what—if you ever get married, I’ll wear a dress. And happily. As long as it’s not in that horrible fuchsia Marcie picked out.”
“No way, sis. You’ll wear a tux if that’s what you want to wear.” His sister had had a rough time growing up as someone who knew she was a lesbian from the age of twelve. It wasn’t until she got to college that people stopped trying to pigeonhole the blue-eyed, strawberry-blond china doll into frilly dresses and lots of makeup. That had never been her style.
“Oscar,” she said, her voice sober. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to get all—well, to get your hopes up. I don’t know what Marcie’s thinking, or how she’s feeling, or anyth—”
“She texted me. Out of the blue. To tell me.”
Dina muttered something he couldn’t quite make out, but it didn’t sound nice. “What are you going to do?”
He shrugged, even though she couldn’t see him. “I don’t know.”
“You don’t have to do anything, you know,” she said quickly.
“I know. Hey, I’d better let you go. I know you have to get up early tomorrow. Give Bethany a hug for me. I’ll be in touch.”
“Love you, Scary.”
“Love you too.”
Oscar disconnected, feeling strangely unsettled. Then he looked at the text messages that had come in while he was talking to Dina.
You didn’t know? Didn’t Dina tell u?
Oscar, we need to talk.
