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It was a big, beautiful room with a steeply sloped ceiling and timber beams. Pink wallpaper--tiny rosebuds and vines--covered the walls. Matching bedspreads were on the two sets of bunk beds. A small oak writing desk was tucked in one corner; to its left three expansive rectangular windows looked out over the ocean. Tonight moonlight tarnished the silvery waves. "Wow," Lauren said.
"The sheets havent been washed in a while. I can do that now--"
"No. " Lauren sounded harsh. She hadnt meant to. It was just . . . overwhelming. "I can do my own sheets. "
"Of course. Youre an adult. I didnt mean to imply that you didnt know how to do laundry. Its just that--"
Lauren dropped the suitcase and ran to Angie, throwing her arms around her. "Thank you," she said, burying her face in the warm, sweet crook of Angies neck.
Slowly, Angie hugged her back. When Lauren felt herself start to cry, she tried to pull back, but Angie wouldnt let her. Instead, she stroked Laurens hair, murmured that it would be okay. Over and over, Its okay now, Lauren. Its okay.
All of her life Lauren had waited for a moment like this.
"WHAT?"
The word was spoken in unison. Shouted, actually.
Angie fought the urge to step back. "Lauren moved in with me. "
Her sisters and Mama stood in a line in Mamas kitchen. They were staring at Angie.
"This is you being careful with the girl?" Mama demanded, slamming her hands on her hips.
"I think its great," Livvy said. "Theyll be good for each other. "
Mama waved her hand impatiently. "Be quiet. Your sister isnt thinking straight. " She took a step forward. "You just dont go around inviting redheaded strangers into your home. "
"Shes hardly a stranger," Livvy said. "Shes been working in the restau
rant. Shes good, too. "
"Until she just didnt show up for three days," Mama said. "For all we know, she was on a crime spree. "
Livvy laughed. "Right. Driving from town to town, robbing mini-marts, stopping only long enough to refill her ammo and take a math test. "
Angie moved nervously from foot to foot. She hadnt expected such a reaction to the moving-in news.
What came next would be a different matter. The word ballistic came to mind.
"Angie," Mira said, moving closer, studying her. "Theres something youre not telling us. "
Angie winced.
"What? Youre keeping secrets, too?" Mama made a snorting sound. "You know Papa will tell me everything. "
Angie was cornered. There was nothing she could do. Pregnancy wasnt the kind of secret that stayed secret. She glanced down the row of women, then said, "There is one more thing. Laurens pregnant. "
Ballistic turned out to be an understatement.
THE ARGUMENT HAD GONE ON FOR HOURS. BY THE TIME it came to a tired, sputtering end, Mama had called in reinforcements. Both of Angies brothers-in-law were there, along with Aunt Giulia and Uncle Francis. Everyone in the room had an opinion on whether Angie was making a mistake.
In a move that surprised everyone, Livvy voiced the lone dissent. "Let her do what she wants," she said sometime in the second hour. "None of us knows what its like for her. "
That had brought the pseudo-town meeting to a crashing halt. At the oblique reference to Angies childlessness, everyone looked quickly away.
Angie shot Livvy a grateful look. Livvy winked and smiled back.
Then it started up again.
