“Really? I didn’t know that. What are thesigns?”
“It’s nothing you can outwardly spot. It’s just a feeling. It comes down to his body language and that look inhiseye.”
“Huh. That’sinteresting.”
“So, what happenedtohim?”
“I don’t know. They don’t tell me anything about the kids’ histories. I’m just a volunteer and not privy to their files. I help them learn life skills, help them with their studies if they’re going for their GED or are in communitycollege.”
“I didn’t know youdidthat.”
“Well, I just wanted to give back a little. I have some experience dealing with kids who have been through traumatic experiences, and most of these foster youth have had rough experiences, even if it’s just being bounced around all theirlives.”
“How oldisRory?”
“Quinn’s age. Eighteen, almost nineteen. Rory and I actually became friends a while back. He’s a drummer; quite talented, actually. That’s what caught my eye about him in the first place. Somehow he reminded meofyou.”
“I’m still not understanding how Grace fits into thispicture.”
“She’s been volunteering with me too. At first it was just to bolster her college application, but then she became very invested in the lives of these young adults and was making friends with them. One in particularstoodout.”
“He’s the total opposite of what I’d picture for her. I mean, he looks like a punk rocker, and Grace is more a preppy, frat-boy typeofgirl.”
“No, actually she’s not. Grace has changed quite a bit over the past year. She has a compassion for others that makes me so proud. Maybe they are an odd pairing looks-wise, but Rory’s actually very similar to her in personality. I can see why shelikeshim.”
“And it doesn’t worry you – them beingtogether?”
“I’ll admit, at first I tried to dissuade her, but then I realized how hypocritical I was being. Here I am volunteering to help improve these kids’ lives, and I’m telling them they can do anything, be anything – but at the same time, thinking they aren’t good enough for my daughter? What kind of message am I sending to Grace if I don’t allow her to see Rory when his only visible fault is the messed up childhood that he had no control over? And besides, compared to the other two boys that your sister dated, Rory is a dreamcometrue.”
I understood what she was saying, but something about Rory still troubled me. “All I’m saying is, be cautious. You don’t know what he’s been through. He might be more screwed up than youthink.”
“Thankfully, Linda and Dave didn’t think the same wayaboutyou.”
I jerked my head up, gaping at my mother. Damn, that was brutal… but soundeniablytrue.
“Sorry… that was… not nice,” she said, hesitating between words. “I feel a little protective of him, Iguess.”
“And I was being a hypocrite, sowe’reeven.”
The two of us sat there quietly for a few moments before she changed the subject. “Did Dadfindyou?”
“Hedid.”
“Everythinggood?”
“Mom, it wasn’t his story that caused the freak out, if that’s what you think. You know me well enough to know there’s a whole array of issues that could have beenbotheringme.”
“But you worked it out with Casey, right?” she asked, sounding hopeful but resigned that I rarely, if ever, workedthingsout.
“I mean, yeah. Sort of. We’remarried.”
She nodded, examining the ketchup bottle. I knew she wanted to press for more information but decided against it. “Well, you and Casey look blissfullyhappy.”
“Weare.”
The tension drained from her face and a twinkle shone in her eye. “I love seeing youlikethis.”
As if she’d heard her name being called, Casey entered from the backyard and slid into my arms so effortlessly that she felt like an extensionofme.
