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Twyla folded up her legs and twisted, about to tell her sister more. “That was amazing, Josie. I jumped in the driver’s side and Forrest jumped in the passenger side.” Excitement raced through her veins, this time from enthusiasm instead of fear. “I asked Forrest if he wanted to drive, and he asked me if I knew how to shoot a gun. I said no, so he said I had to drive. And I did! I had that car going as fast as it could, and bullets were flying at us, Forrest was shooting back.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “If I live for another hundred years, I’ll never forget it.”
“And the only time you were scared was when you jumped in the lake?” Josie asked.
“Yeah,” Twyla said, meaning it. “Sure, I was nervous, especially driving, but that was because I didn’t want to crash the car. We both could have been hurt or worse. As it was, I knew we’d make it out alive. Forrest was with me.” Propping one elbow on the bench, she rested her cheek in her palm. “I knew he wouldn’t let me get hurt. Even when my legs cramped while swimming, he just took hold of me and swam to shore.”
Josie was once again staring out of the window, and Twyla felt a bit guilty, going on about her adventure while Josie was so clearly upset. She let her gaze wander around the room. The walls were painted white, Josie’s choice, to match the furniture, curtains, and bed coverings. The only color in the room came from the pictures of flowers on the walls and a few knickknacks on the shelves.
“What’s your favorite color, Josie?” Twyla asked, just to put the focus on her sister.
“I don’t have one. I like all colors.”
“But if you had to choose, what would it be?”
“I don’t know if I could choose just one.” Softly, Josie added, “They all have a purpose.”
Twyla let her gaze land on her sister again. Josie was dressed as usual, in blue cotton trousers and a white blouse. The only time she put on a dress was for the evening parties, so up until a couple of weeks ago, she’d rarely worn dresses or skirts. She claimed to like the comfort of pants and that they were easier to work in. Besides now helping in the office, Josie still cleaned rooms on a daily basis, a chore Twyla had readily given up when Norma Rose asked for help. Josie, though, didn’t seem to mind.
“You heard about Ginger, didn’t you?” Twyla asked.
“Yes. I figured that would happen.”
“Me, too,” Twyla said. “Still, it’s rather amazing. Ginger married. Norma Rose getting married.”
“You getting married.”
Twyla’s heart nearly stopped dead. “Me?”
Josie nodded. “Don’t act surprised. You’ve been in love with Forrest since we were kids. All that’s left now is to tie the knot.”
“That will never happen,” Twyla muttered.
“Yes, it will. That’s the reason you and Norma Rose never got along,” Josie said, then added, “until she fell in love with Ty.”
Twyla couldn’t deny the truth of that, even if she hadn’t realized it until this very moment. Letting out a sigh, she said, “Forrest doesn’t love me back.”
Josie sighed, too, loudly. “I just pointed out that’s why Norma Rose was always so grumpy. She knew Forrest liked you more than her years ago. She was always afraid you’d be the one marrying him, living in his big house with all that money while she remained poor.” Josie turned back to the window. “Forrest loves you, he just doesn’t want to.”
Although what her sister said made sense, Twyla couldn’t quite believe it, or understand. “Why?”
Josie sighed again. “Forrest couldn’t love you years ago because you were too young, and he was too old. Not to mention that he was rich and we were poor. Now, when age doesn’t matter, he can’t love you because you’re rich and he’s poor. It’s obvious.”
“I don’t care if he’s poor,” Twyla said.
“Since when? You love money more than Norma Rose.”
Irked that her sister knew her so well—too well—and that she didn’t have an answer for that, Twyla chose to stare at the ceiling. “Forrest will leave again. Start his airmail service.”
“Maybe, maybe not.”
Not up to arguing that point, Twyla said, “Fine, smarty-pants, if you’re so smart, why did you get arrested?”
Josie didn’t answer. Twyla didn’t glance her way, but said, “I’ve known for a long time that there is more to your Ladies Aid meetings than meets the eye. You have cases of rubbers in your closet. So what happened?”
“I can’t tell you,” Josie said. “I can’t tell anyone.”
