When Cujo finally found Drea, she was staring at a piece of paper.It shook in her hand, and she was biting down the side of her thumb.
“You okay, Shortcake?”He slipped his arm around her shoulder.
Immediately, she turned and wrapped her arms around his waist.
“What is it?What’s in the letter?”he asked.“Not that I’m prying if you don’t want to tell me.”
She released him and handed the letter over.He read it quickly.“Wow.”
“Yeah.”Drea let out a large sigh and swept her hair back over her shoulders.“The lawyer just passed it to me.”
“How are you doing?”
“Why couldn’t she say that to me when she was alive?Why could she put it on a piece of paper and hand it to a virtual stranger?Why was that easier than saying ‘Hey, Drea’ one evening instead of asking me what was for dinner?”
He put his arms around her waist and pulled her close.“I don’t know, Drea.I guess the most important things are sometimes the hardest to say.I nearly gave up on us because of everything else that was going on with me.It felt easier to put distance between us than tell you how I was feeling.Perhaps your mom had the same problem.”
“So it’s me.I’m just too hard to talk to?”
“No, Drea.It was me.I had to get things sorted out in my own mind before I could speak to you.Perhaps your mom just ran out of time.”
Drea laid her forehead against his chest.
Harper bustled into the kitchen, quickly followed by Trent.“Is there any more coffee left?Oh, sorry.”
Drea squeezed Cujo’s waist.“I’ll make some more.”
“I can do it,” Harper said, pulling the filter out and dropping it into the garbage.“Are you okay, sweetie?”
“It’s been a crazy run of weeks.With the woman and Snake and Mom,” Drea replied, rinsing the carafe.
“Where do things stand with all that?”Trent asked.
“We were at the police station just the other day,” Cujo replied.“They don’t know who the woman is yet, but they have nailed some of the other pieces.”He filled them in on Mike, Walter, and the rest of the developments.
“That’s some heavy shit, man,” Trent said.“That’s a lot for you to deal with, Drea.”Trent pulled Drea in for a hug.Cujo coughed gruffly.To see his best friend so concerned for his girl.Hell, he’d feel the same way about Harper.
“Drea.Pequeña.”Mrs.Hernandez stood in the doorway.
“Mrs.Hernandes,” Drea said.
Cujo rushed to help her inside the kitchen.She patted Cujo’s cheek.“You are such a good boy.Some of us are leaving now.”
They escorted Mrs.Hernandes to the hall.Cujo stood by Drea’s side as people said their good-byes.
“Bye, sweetheart.”Mrs.Hernandes squeezed Drea’s hand.“Maybe now you can go off to college like you always talked about doing.”
“God bless your mother, Andrea.Tell me if you need Juanita’s number at college.She’d be more than happy to help you figure out how to apply.”Mr.Ibarra shook Drea’s and Cujo’s hands.
“You know Raoul’s wife just got her real estate license,” Dina said.“I’m sure she’d help you out if you decide to sell.”
They needed to talk.He had no idea what Drea wanted but it was clear everyone else expected her to go.He tipped his head toward Trent.
“Yeah, well, Harper and I will be off, too.”Trent made for the door.
“No, sweetie, we won’t.I need to help Drea tidy up.”Harper started to pick up the red plastic cups they’d used for soft drinks.
“You don’t need to do that.I got it,” Drea said.
