I was still floating on something awful close to Cloud Nine when I made my way around the corner and into the parking lot. Much to my surprise, Maria wasn’t in the car. She was just standing there, clutching a note in shaking hands. Fucking deja vu. I hurried to her, and she handed it to me without a word.
Little dove, can’t wait to see how pretty you look in your dress. See you soon.
I glared at it, before pulling my phone out and taking a picture. Crumpling it, I threw it to the ground as I sent the picture to Diego. After last time, I had gotten Diego’s number the very next day. The slightest hint that Maria might be in danger and I was pretty sure he would’ve sold me his bike. This time, his response was instant.
Diego: “She ok?”
Me: “She will be, I’m taking her home now. Leaving Laverne’s.”
Diego: “Let me know when y’all get home.”
I ushered Maria into the passenger seat, looking around us and second-guessing every shadow. It was a feeling I did not miss.
When we got home, my mom and dad could immediately tell something was off. Maria bolted upstairs, leaving me to explain what had happened. I did so, briefly. My mom’s whole face pinched like she had swallowed a lemon, the way it did when she was really mad but trying to maintain face. Eyes narrowed, lips nothing more than thin lines. My dad’s face grew stormy, and he marched out of the room muttering something about calling August and the sheriff. Mom looked like she wanted to ask me something but I hurried off before she could start a conversation I wasn’t ready to have.
Upstairs, I knocked on Maria’s closed door and told her that Dad was calling Mr. Mills. I also reminded her to check in with Diego, who was probably champing at the bit to run Jesse over with his bike. When she didn’t respond, I went to my room and took a shower—letting the hot water wash away the sins of the past and the shadows that plagued me. Dad came in when I was sitting at my vanity, braiding my wet hair.
“You ok, bug?”
I nodded, looking at him in the mirror’s reflection. “Yeah, just wish he would leave us alone.”
“August and I are taking care of it. You know your mom and I won’t let anything happen to our girls.”
I sighed, folding my hands in my lap. Our girls. I was elated that they considered Maria one of their own. I already loved her like a sister. But the truth is…they alreadyhadlet something happen to their first girl. Something really fucking awful. Something that made my skin crawl every time a guy brushed up against me. Something that made me shrink back from the way Jackson would sometimes look at me. Memories that made me hate who I had been. And who I was. Dreading who I would become. “I am just so tired of seeing the bad guys win, Daddy.”
The admission surprised him as much as it did me. Even more surprising were the tears in his eyes when he steppedcloser, bending down and hugging me from behind. I stiffened but slowly let myself lean into his touch. The same touch that had once made me feel safe and secure and loved. God, part of me wanted that so bad. Maybe one day. But right now? I was still a hot mess. In this moment though, I could just be a girl getting a hug from her dad and that would have to be enough.
That night, as I was lying in bed, I woke up to my door creaking open. In the light spilling from the hall into my dark room, I could see Maria’s silhouette and scooted over as she crawled into bed next to me without a word. She must have been having nightmares again. I didn’t mind the company. I even welcomed it. Cause those nightmares that came and went for her? They were every damn night for me. Her breathing eventually evened out and I rolled over, letting sleep come over me. It had been a long damn day. I made a mental note to figure out what pie Momma had referred to. Something about help? I snuggled deeper under my covers and filed it away for another day.
The next couple of days were spent convincing Maria to still go to prom. She was scared, I could see that, but I didn’t want that douche ruining her night and told her as much. I even brought Diego over and eavesdropped as he told her over and over again that he would never let someone hurt her. My mom even gave it her best shot, telling Maria all about the makeup artist she had hired, and fawning over the dresses when they were delivered to the house. True to form, she adored Maria’s dress. Mine? Well, it left her speechless. Pretty sure she almost fainted.
Which just made me love it all the more. At first, prom was just something I was doing for Maria but as it got closer, I found myself growing excited.
The morning of, I still wasn’t sure I had convinced Maria to go. But as I was going through my mother’s jewelry case, Maria barged in. Panting. Out of breath like she had run a mile.
“Ok, here’s the deal.”
I raised an eyebrow at her, putting Mom’s pearl and diamond earrings back into the case. Too flashy.
“I will try on the dress. With the alterations. If it fits, I go. If it doesn’t fit, I stay. It’s like a coin toss.”
“…that dress was custom tailored for you, by some of the best seamstresses in Georgia. If my mother is to be believed.”
“Exactly. So if it doesn’t fit, it’s a sign.”
“Uh-huh.” She frowned at me, so I picked up a necklace and held it out to her. I knew my jewels and this was a gorgeous opal and pink tourmaline pendant that my dad had gifted Mom for one of their anniversaries. “This would go so pretty with your dress.”
She walked over and took it from me. “It’s beautiful. But why do I get the feeling I could buy a house with this?”
“Try a small apartment,” I quipped.
She shook her head at me, “I dunno, Holly. Y’all already paid for my dress. My shoes. And the way your mom talks RuPaul himself is coming to do our makeup.”
“Who the hell is RuPaul?”
She blinked at me. “Wow. That’s just sad.” She edged closer to me, eyeing the jewelry box. Pointing at a black diamond choker that I had literally never seen my mother wear she said, “That would look great on you.”
“My poor mom is going to have a heart attack.”
