“I sort of remember that,” Summer said, tears in her eyes. “I remember Winter crying, and you holding her. And Autumn was there. Tiny, and she started crying too. So I climbed into her bed, trying to calm her down.”
Mom smiled. “You did. And Autumn lashed out, kicking you, which made you cry.”
“The beginning of our fighting,” Autumn said.
Mom smiled. “It would seem so. Let’s see. That was such a hard day. In the middle of that, your father came in, enraged that you wouldn’t go walk with Hairy Bill. Hairy Bill had blamed your father for your resistance.”
“Did Dad not understand what was going on?”
“He didn’t see Hairy Bill as anything but a leader who loved children.”
I shivered. “I can’t believe he was that stupid.”
“He wasn’t stupid, just brainwashed.” Mom said. “They didn’t want anyone leaving their little paradise, as they called it. And those who did were returned.”
My eyes got wide. “That’s why you were so scared about Autumn.”
Mom nodded. “I was afraid they had come and taken her.”
I shook my head. “I cannot believe you didn’t tell me any of this.”
“Was this up in Wyoming?” Audra asked.
Mom glanced at her. “Yes, how did you know?”
“I watch way too much crime TV,” Audra said.
“You mean there’s a TV show about the cult?” Autumn asked.
“Evidently,” I said.
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Mom said. “When I told the police everything—”
“You turned them in?”
“I just told them where it was and what I suspected. I had no proof anything was happening.”
I stared at my mother. Once again, overwhelmed by her. I had always thought she was this whimsical hippy chick. Not that I didn’t trust or appreciate her, but I had no idea she had steel under the chakras.
“You’re impressive,” Audra said.
I nodded, agreeing with her. Because I wasn’t sure what to say.
“How did you hold all this in?” Summer asked.
“Prayer. Meditation. Determination. And some damn near heroic people here in Barrum who helped me out a lot when I needed it.”
“Who?” I asked.
“It doesn’t matter,” Mom said. “And they would never want their generosity known. That’s the kind of people they were.”
“That means we know them,” Autumn said.
“Which is why,” Mother glared at Autumn, “I insist on doing the drives for children for school supplies and other charity things. It might be a tiny thing for us, but you never know if it’s the difference between eating or not eating for someone else.”
All this information stirred around in my brain, a stew that just didn’t quite fit together yet. Hopefully, when it all cooked together, it would make more sense.
It really was a helluva day.
