The camera can’t see him now, but the look of confusion on his face when I said this is still fresh in my mind. ”Really?”
“Yep. She gave it to me and told me it was her mom’s good luck necklace. She made me promise to give it to the next person when I felt like I didn’t need it anymore. And I used to think how could she possibly think I’m deserving of this? Why would she pass this down to me of all people? But I haven’t taken it off since. And it’s taken me a long time, but I finally understand that I’m the exact right person to carry on this legacy for her.”
Evie reaches over the table and puts her hand over mine. “I’m so proud of you,” she mouths.
“I love you,” I mouth back.
The video progresses through more confessionals. The interviews with Tanya’s family keep the audience laughing and lighthearted.
“How would you describe Tanya in one word?”
“Dramatic,” Cora responds.
“Iconic,” says John.
“Oooh, um, I’d say carefree,” Aaron says during his interview.
June and Tiara interview together. “One word for Tanya?” June says. “I don’t even think there’s a singular word that exists that fits her.”
Tiara smiles at her mom. “Indescribable?” she offers.
“That feels like cheating, but I’m gonna take it,” June says.
“Impossible!” Auntie Joyce yells. “She was impossible. Impossibly kind. Impossibly funny. Impossibly driven. Impossibly everything.”
“Do you have a favorite moment with Tanya?” I ask.
June, Cora, and Auntie Joyce have the most stories to share. Auntie Joyce shares one about Tanya getting caught smuggling a stray dog into the movie theater as a kid.
June shares a story about Tanya driving June’s husband’s truck into a mud pit by accident once and coming home covered head to toe in what they thought was shit.
Cora gives details about Tanya’s wedding. The audience bursts into tears when she describes how happy Tanya and George were and how she thought they’d last forever.
Janine, Daria, my parents, and Micah’s parents all have videos throughout too, each one pulling at every heartstring in the building.
When the documentary is over, I make my way back to the stage.
“Thank you, everyone. As you might have noticed, Micah was working on something throughout that video. We’d like to share that painting with you all now.”
Micah pulls the cover off his painting and there’s a wave of shock and awe that runs through the crowd.
Ella stands up and starts slow clapping. It doesn’t take long for others to follow. I force Micah to take a bow as the claps grow louder.
“This painting is titledThe Many Faces of Tanyaand it is available for bidding. Once again, thank you, everyone, for being here tonight. Tanya loved her life, and she loved you all, so I know she’s smiling down on us now. Oh, and she’s also reminding me to remind you all to keep bidding on those auction items.”
Victor is the first person to approach me after my final speech. He’s of course wearing a suit, but this one is forest green, a nice change from his usual.
“Victor, I didn’t know you had color in your closet,” I tease.
“Well, I thought I’d dig this one up in Tanya’s honor.” I look at his lapel to see he has a pink flower pin that closely resembles the one he donated.
“And you succeeded.” I hold my hand out to him. “Thank you, Victor. We could not have done this without you.”
He looks at my hand briefly and then pushes it away and pulls me in for a hug.
Now he’s messing up my makeup by making me cry! I’m back to not liking him.
“You did right by her, Dani. Know that.” He kisses my forehead before heading back to his table.
