12. The Truth Shall Set You Free
THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE
Twyla sat at the table hunched over a mug of coffee, her fingers threaded into her braids as she tried to figure out a solution to her problem.
Linda and Mable entered the kitchen talking and laughing and Twyla cringed.
The only reason she had come to the kitchen was because she'd thought everyone was out by the lake and she'd have a few moments of solitary peace.
Her mama stopped behind her and gave her a hug, then moved on to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of orange juice.
"Why are you looking so stressed, niece? We're on vacation."
Lifting her head, Twyla tried to offer her aunt a smile, but the weak thing wavered briefly before disappearing altogether.
"I look stressed because I'm incredibly stressed, Auntie."
Linda scoffed. "What do you have to be stressed about, little girl? Any problems you had are back in Houston. You should be enjoying this all-expenses-paid trip."
Annoyed at being so quickly dismissed, Twyla straightened her back and glared at her mama. "Actually, no, my problems are not all back home. I have a very big one here under this roof and it's because of your secrets that I'm so stressed out."
Baffled, Linda gaped at her, an empty champagne flute in one hand and a bottle of prosecco in the other. "Are you still upset about Arturo? He's here now, what more do you want?"
Twyla fumed at Linda's flippant tone. She knew that she should just keep her mouth shut and go wallow somewhere else, and the knowing look that her aunt was sending her way should have told her that she was dancing on dangerous grounds, but her anger fueled her.
Everything wasn't so cut and dry just because they had finally decided to embrace their half-brother.
Lives were effected by their selfishness—her life was effected.
With her palms flat on the tabletop, Twyla stood and held her mama's gaze.
"Yeah, Mama. I'm still upset, because I'm hurt by this."
"I really don't see the problem," Linda quipped. "What would you knowing about him have changed?"
"Linda—just hold on now. Let her speak." Mable placed the glasses she had been retrieving from a cabinet onto a tray and nodded at Twyla. "Gon' 'head, niece."
Twyla swallowed against the lump in her throat. She'd been too embarrassed to give her mama the whole story when the truth had first come out but now she wished that she had. Maybe she wouldn't have had to come on this trip and be repeatedly tortured by what she couldn't have.
"Arturo and I were on a date that day when you saw us. We were making plans for another one. We were going to be together. And now I'm sick and disgusted with myself because even though I know that I shouldn't, I can't stop wanting him. Your lies put me in this position!"
Twyla's chest heaved and her face was scrunched and there were tears in her eyes that she fought not to shed.
Linda stared at her with her mouth agape, pure disbelief on her face.
And Mable—well, Mable's expression surprised Twyla.
Mable's face was red with anger, but it wasn't for Twyla.
With her hands clenched into fists, Mable glared at Linda.
"Still keeping secrets, Linda? Just like your damn mama! Tell them damn kids the truth, right now."
"What's going on?"
All eyes swung behind Twyla to find Arturo standing there in wet swim trunks and a damp tank top.
He was still dripping water and it looked like he had just hopped out of the lake pool, pulled his shirt on, and headed this way.
Without a doubt, Twyla knew he had been looking for her and the unfairness of it all settled heavily onto her chest, causing her to burst into sobs.
Immediately, Arturo went to her, wrapping her in his arms and asking what was wrong, but she couldn't answer.
She was torn between relishing in the feel of his concern, and being mortified that her mama and aunt were seeing them like this.
"Enough is enough!"
Twyla jerked out of Arturo's arms at the sound of her aunt's yell. Mable rounded the island and grabbed Twyla's hand in her arm. Her grip was firm, sure.
"I'm so sorry, niece. It never occurred to me that you didn't know."
"Mable—"
"Know what, Auntie?"
Ignoring the warning in Linda's tone, Mable nodded at Arturo. "Him and your bull-headed mama are not related."
Twyla's gasped. "What?!"
"Mmhm."
"But…how?"
"Linda has a different daddy than the rest of us and he has a different mama. They are each our half sibling, but they have no relation to each other. I had no idea that your mama hadn't told you this."
Twyla glanced at Arturo, expecting to see him look as shocked as she was, but he simply nodded.
"You knew?" She asked accusingly.
He shook his head. "Not until just ten minutes ago. Nelson just told me and I hopped out of the pool to find you and let you know."
Her mind was whirring. All of the time that she'd spent worrying and stressed, it was all for nothing. The heartache, the tears, the damn trip to the candy shop—all for nothing. Looking over her aunt's shoulder, Twyla found her mama standing there glassy-eyed with a hand over her mouth.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
The other woman shook her head. "I didn't know—I didn't think it mattered."
"How could the truth not matter, Mama?"
"It matters because you've painted Poppy as some adulterous heartbreaker who took Gran for granted and broke her heart.
Knowing that she cheated and had a baby on him first is important context.
" Silent tears tracked down Linda's cheeks but Twyla was unmoved.
"It's also important because it changes the narrative from my aunts and uncles choosing not to support their daddy, to them collectively washing their hands of both of their trash-ass parents.
It explains why they don't fool with you too much either.
You made Arturo feel like he had nobody when you had the same amount of connection to the family as he did. That matters!"
By this time, several other members of the family had entered the great room and were watching the drama unfold.
"Did Gran tell you that you were somehow better than him?
How did she spin it? What did she say to you that made you think that this was okay?
" Her voice cracked and Arturo gently pulled her hands from Mable's grasp and tugged her to him, pulled her into his chest. She pressed her face against the damp fabric and sobbed.
Without releasing her, he led her out of the crowded area and down the hall where their bedrooms were.