Epilogue
THANKSGIVING DAY
THREE MONTHS LATER
Fry bread was sizzling on the stove, and the potato casserole in the oven was making Danuwoa’s whole town house smell divine. My stomach rumbled, anticipating the delicious feast Auntie was cooking up with Danuwoa in the kitchen.
I felt a little guilty that I hadn’t been able to help cook at all, but I had to study for my midterms. I didn’t want to take any chances with my grades—I wanted them to be the best they could be to keep my grant, but also make the Chickasaw Nation proud. I went my whole adult life avoiding asking for help, and now that they generously bestowed it upon me, I wanted to do right by them.
Working for the community bank was also the best thing to happen to me. I got all the bank holidays off, and with bank hours, I could easily make it to my evening classes.
I looked up from my textbook to give my eyes a break before they glazed over. Accounting was not the most interesting topic, but there were set rules that didn’t change much, except for the tax stuff. I hated the tax code. Joanna and Walela were sitting on the floor in front of the TV, beading. Joanna was showing Walela how to make a beaded collar.
Months ago, I couldn’t fathom having a wholesome holiday at home with my entire family. Now, I knew it would be like this every year.
“Brain food incoming,” Danuwoa said as he placed a cinnamon-sugar piece of fry bread on top of my work. “Auntie Ruthie wants you to check and make sure the dough turned out right.” He winked.
“Always happy to taste test,” I said with a salute. Then I took a huge, fat bite. It was perfect. I licked the cinnamon sugar off my lips, watching Danuwoa’s eyes heat.
“Not in front of the family,” he whispered in my ear, before he kissed my temple.
I gave him my most mischievous smile and suggestively took another bite.
“Hello!” Sage burst through the front door.
The sound made me jump and bump my head into Danuwoa’s face.
Danuwoa straightened to his full height, rubbing his forehead. “Welcome, Sage.”
“Sup.” Sage lifted his chin in greeting. “I brought the pumpkin pie.”
“Sweet, let me take that to the kitchen. Make yourself at home,” Danuwoa said.
“He always does,” I mumbled under my breath and went back to work. I didn’t get very far into the next paragraph when Sage scooted into the chair opposite me.
“You’re not busy, right?” he asked.
“I’m doing homework,” I deadpanned.
“Great, so I wanted to give this to you.” Sage reached into his pocket and started placing wads of crumpled bills and quarters on the table.
I pushed my school stuff to the side. “What is all this?”
“Start counting, Miss Accountant. What’s all that school for if you can’t count?”
“Is this…?” I let the sentence trail off, because I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“Your money. All of it I owe you.”
Joanna and Walela got up from the floor and came around the table, their smiles big.
“You did it, Sage!” Walela high-fived him.
“I’m proud of you,” Joanna said as she socked him in the shoulder.
“What’s this?” Auntie came in, drying her hands with a kitchen towel, flour sprinkled all over her apron.
“Everything I owe her. Down to the last quarter,” Sage said with a wink.
I started smoothing out the crumpled bills, stacking the ones together, then the fives, tens, and twenties. There was one lone hundred-dollar bill. Then I started stacking the quarters, making piles, counting along the way until I got to $1,000.
“You really did it,” I whispered, because the emotion caught my voice in a viselike grip. I was going to cry. I reached my hand across the dining table, grasping Sage’s in mine and squeezing.
We never had it easy, but it was our upbringing that made us so close. He was my baby brother, and I was a proud big sister.
I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder and looked up to see Danuwoa smiling proudly in support.
“I’m really sorry for everything I put you both through,” Sage said, looking to both Auntie and me.
Auntie was blotting her eyes on the kitchen towel, and Joanna turned away so no one would see her tearing up too. Walela was the first to embrace Sage, and then we all gathered in a group hug.
I loved this big family we were able to find. We chose each other and would always be there for one another. This was what I was most thankful for and would be celebrating today. On the day we Indians saved the pilgrims.