CHAPTER TWO #2
The waitress brings our food, and we eat in silence for a few minutes before Jon gets a look on his face, telling me he’s remembering something.
The only question is whether it’s gonna be something I want him to remember.
Fucker has gotten me in trouble for shit years later thanks to his memory.
“You’ve always been one to argue on someone else’s behalf.
I remember you were maybe five, and Juan had gotten in trouble in school.
We were like freshmen or something. Anyway, he got suspended for fighting, and Ma had to come and bring him home.
You were home already since it was afternoon.
I remember Juan saying you were stubborn and that he had to tell you why he was in trouble.
I guess he fought some asshole who was picking on a girl in class.
I don’t know what all was said then, but I remember Ror and I had just gotten home.
You pushed a stool up next to Ma in the kitchen and climbed up it, pulling on her apron to get her attention.
You then told her that you were mad at her because she was mad at Juan.
You told her that she and Pa always told us to stand up to meanies, and that’s what Juan did.
You shook your head at her, hopped off the stool, and stomped out of the room, yelling that maybe she was a meanie too.
Ror and I laughed our asses off at that and at Ma’s expression.
It was worth the smack from the lefse stick, watching her get schooled by a fucking kindergartener. ”
“I don’t remember that, but it does sound like somethin’ I would’ve fucking done.
” Pa nods. “I remember that, because when I got home from the shop that day, your Ma had a look on her face that I’d never seen.
She told me what you did and that you were right, but she couldn’t let a five-year-old know that.
She said none of the parenting books ever prepared her for a five-year-old lawyer.
After that, I think she was always prepared for you to have some argument to defend your siblings. ”
I lean back from my almost finished burger and decide to share with Pa and Jon something that’s been weighing on my mind.
“So, what I’m about to tell you stays between us, alright?
” Both Pa and Jon give me a look. “I’m serious.
I’m not their attorney, so I’m not breaking the law, but…
I haven’t decided how to handle it, and I think some people in our family aren’t quite ready to hear it just yet. ”
Jon looks around and back to me. “This ain’t something we need privacy to discuss, is it?
” I shake my head. “No, nothing like that. I got a letter from Tyson a couple of days ago. His sentence is almost up. He’s gotta live in a halfway house for thirty days as part of his plea agreement, but he’s wondering if he’d be welcome to move back here, maybe even prospect for the club.
” Both Pa and Jon look a little stunned, but Pa gets it together quicker.
“That wasn’t even in the top twenty things I thought you might bring up.
” He plays with his beard for a moment, then asks me the million-dollar question.
“Do you think he’s clean or that he’s gonna stay clean?
” I shrug. “Where he’s at? He’s most likely clean now.
Will he stay clean once he’s out? That’s the million-dollar question.
I was gonna show the letter I got to Mayson and Jeremiah since they know him as well as I do.
” Jon looks at me. “What about Shane? I mean, he is Tyson’s big brother.
What about Grant?” I shake my head. “I think Tyson is embarrassed and still working through shit when it comes to them. This is, I think, the third or fourth letter he’s sent me, but it’s the first one he’s mentioned moving back here once he’s out. ”
Pa looks like he’s studying me. “You’re thinking of going and visiting him, aren’t you?
” I nod. “Yeah, I mean, I was thinking of seeing if Mayson and Jer or even Kinsley or Hanna wanted to go. We’re the ones who were closest to him before…
before everything. I was thinking if one of them went with me that we could both observe him and make sure he’s not looking to come back here just to use again. ”
Jon takes a moment before he makes a decision.
“I’m not making any promises about his being able to join the club.
He’s family, but I’ve got to protect all of us.
Shane, Kierstie, and their little ones could get attached, and then if he relapses, it would cause some serious pain.
I think he needs to do his time at that place when he gets out, come out here, find regular meetings, and get a job.
See how that goes for a while, and then we might talk about him joining the club. ”
Pa nods but throws in some words for thought for both Jon and me.
“No one knows what’s going to happen in the future.
Tomorrow’s not promised to any of us, and it wouldn’t be fair to make Tyson wait forever.
I think most things in recovery are measured with one year of sobriety.
Maybe he needs to be out and living here for a year, clean and sober, and we can have him prospect if he wants.
We’re family, and we shouldn’t expect perfection, just progress and patience to let individuals work on bettering themselves for their best life. ”
Christy
I’ve spent the morning helping Anna and Daisy in the kitchen.
Daisy insisted we make a late breakfast together as soon as Mayson dropped her off.
Jackson and Wyatt both took the day off, so they were here to partake.
Mary and Daisy made fresh-squeezed orange juice, which I can’t seem to get enough of.
I think I might have had one real orange in my life, so this is a new favorite.
We only ever got canned fruit up on the mountain.
Mandarin oranges from the can are not bad, but there’s nothing like the real thing.
Can’t say I feel the same way about bananas.
Their texture is a little weird, and I feel kinda naughty eating them. What? You know it’s weird.
Anna mentioned that she can make bread from scratch, no problem, but that her biscuits never turn out.
Mary spoke up when she heard that. “You have to show her, Christy.” We were sitting at the table after dinner last night while plans for the next few days were being discussed.
Mary looked at Anna with a serious expression.
“Christy makes the best biscuits, like ever. She makes them better than anyone else did on the mountain. They’re always so fluffy and buttery. ”
Wyatt made a deal that if I made them and he thought they were great, I would teach Anna, and he promised to teach me how to drive.
That was an easy deal to make. Anna, Wyatt, and Jackson have all been really kind.
They’re all determined to help us. Jackson keeps coming up with different foods to try and movies to watch.
Wyatt is determined to get us both to drive, and in his words, “Appreciate good fucking music.”
Anna and Hanna have been helping Mary and me in ways that I’m not even sure I have the words for.
They’re helping us dress in more normal clothes, and Hanna has got us these tablet things we can read on.
She’s introduced us to romance books. I’m not a fast reader, but I love reading things I’ve never read.
I’ve missed that so much. I think the last time I read something new to me before this was at least eight years ago.
Hanna has declared that this weekend we’re going to have something called a sleepover.
She’s invited some of the girls from the club family, and Anna’s going to make food.
Anna told both of us that she’s going to help us get jobs and find a place to live.
I’m not sure how she’s gonna do that, considering there’s no proof that either of us actually exists, but she’s certain she can.
I know Max mentioned helping with it, too.
He’s a lawyer, so I’m thinking that if anyone can, he can.
Max…since the day I met him up the mountain, he hasn’t left my mind. His light-grayish brown eyes…I felt like they could see inside of me, see my innermost thoughts. He’s also really sweet and kind. I’m still getting used to any man being that way.
The first couple of days, I kept waiting for Jackson or Wyatt to yell at Anna or even Mayson or Asher to talk down to her.
Logan must have been paying attention because he came and talked to me.
Told me he could see I was waiting for the anger to happen.
“Yeah, there are men like that down here, but none are in this family. I don’t know a single one who would ever yell at a woman like you’re used to.
These men also value women as people, not objects.
It’s different from what you’re used to and will take time to adjust, but you don’t ever have to accept being treated like that again. ”
I’m brought back to reality when I’m hit in the gut with a tiara.
Daisy looks at me. “It’s princess time!” She pulls me to stand up and follow her, but Jackson stands in her way.
He looks down, and I can feel the love he’s got for her coming off him.
“You’re gonna have to play with your nana and papa for a bit.
I’m taking Christy out for a while, okay?
” Daisy looks between us. “Okay, Gampa. Can you bring me back a cookie?” He shakes his head while smiling.
“I don’t know that we’re gonna be where there are cookies, but I’m pretty sure Mary was gonna make some.
Maybe you could help her?” She takes off toward the kitchen, both of us quickly forgotten.