I shake my head. I can’t even venture a guess.
“The container.”
“The container,” I repeat.
“Yes. The container. The thing people use to gather herbs and foods, to carry water. The container was the pivotal moment. The pivotal tool.”
“Okay, like a bowl,” I say, trying as hard as I can to keep up.
“A bowl, yes, or…” She smiles. “A handbag.”
“Oh lord,” I say, putting a hand on my head. “Not with the leatherwork class again.”
Sage laughs. “Look. I’m just saying this because I want you to know that handbags aren’t shallow. They’re not superficial. They’re the things that women carry that hold their whole world together. They don’t just have our currency and our cards, they have snacks, and—”
“Medicine,” I supply.
“Medicine, and teas, and hand sanitizer. And more, so much more. Handbags—containers—are important. They’re ancient. I wanted you to know this, deeply. In case that was a big part of what was holding you back.” She runs her fingers through my hair. “You deserve joy, Teal. Okay?”
I nod. “Okay.” I try really hard not to tear up when we hug, and fail…but that’s okay. I’m trying not to mind people seeing me sad or vulnerable anymore. It’s not a weakness, I remind myself.
And when she leaves, I throw off the blankets and do what everyone told me to do. I shower. I dab Victoria’s Secret Pure Seduction at my neck and wrists, and I put on a pink sundress and sandals, completing the look with shimmery pink gloss and my hair plaited into one long braid. I hold a hand over my heart and think of the little girl, the piece of my soul, just returned to me. “We got this,” I whisper to her. And then I walk downstairs.
My heart is in mythroat when we pull down Carter’s street, and it feels like it’s somehow filled up my entire body when I see him outside. He’s got a tin watering can in his hands and I amthisclose to bursting into tears when I see what he’s doing.
He’s watering the dahlias. He’s taking care of the flowers I planted for my sister’s wedding, even though I was the cruelest bitch in the world to him. “He’s too good for me,” I say, and all the women around me—we’re all squished in Nadia’s CR-V—shake their heads.
It’s Amá Sonya who responds. “You are better than any man.”
“Uh—” Sky says. “That’s not quite what—”
“Thanks,” I say, because I know what Amá was getting at—sort of—and now my heart is hammering against my rib cage, because Carter has spotted the car. I swallow and open the door.
“Teal?” Carter’s staring at me, not even realizing he’s probably overwatering the seedlings by now. He looks down and tosses the watering can aside. “What— I mean, how are you fe—”
“Tell him!” Sage commands, and maybe it’s something about her being both my big sister and mother figure at once, but I listen to her.
“I’m sorry!” I weep, limping across the driveway.
He gives me an incredulous look. “Sorry for what?”
“I know Erika gave you the money. She told me. And I’m sorry I lied. I wasn’t not feeling well. I was hiding at Nadia’s because I’m a coward. I was just so scared, you know? Scared you didn’t really love me. That you had been lying about your feelings, you know? Because you never said you loved— Not that you have to, I mean—” I shake my head. With my high emotions, my thoughts are getting too jumbled. “But I don’t want anyone else.Ever. I never told you this, but I broke up with Nate for you.” I take a deep breath as his eyes widen. “When I was with him, I could only think about you. You’ve always been the one for me. Even when we were kids, even when I didn’t know it. And I understand if I’m too much for you, if you’ve changed your mind—”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Carter takes two huge strides, wrapping his arms around me. “I can’t change my mind about you, Teal. When you were with those other guys…shit, I tried. I tried so hard to stop loving you but it’simpossible.”
I’m weeping hard into his shoulder, but I manage to get the words out. “You really love me? Like, for real?”
“Since I was a little kid. And I’ve never stopped. Not once in two decades.”
Around us, I’m vaguely aware of everyone clapping and whistling. Well, everyone except for Amá Sonya, who probably looks bored as hell, but I don’t care. I grab Carter’s face and kiss him as the clapping gets louder and Sky, I think, starts hooting.
He breaks the kiss and stares at me with those yellow diamond eyes and I am momentarily breathless. “I’m so glad you’re my husband.”
“I’m so glad you’re my wife.”
There is something bizarre happening around us, and I finally glance away from Carter to see that the dahlias are now about as tall as I am, and each and every one is beginning to flower. And they’re every color imaginable—pumpkin orange, white swirled with hot pink like raspberry cream fudge, and one violet so saturated it looks as though it’s vibrating. From tiny little pompoms to enormous dinner plates the size of my face, some petals round, others as wrinkled and soft as torn tissue paper. I glance at Sage, leaning by the car, who smiles and gives me a thumbs-up. This is her doing, obviously.
“What about the baby?” I call.
