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The hairs on the back of my neck prickle. Holy shit. “Are you saying my grandmother left my grandfather for another man? A Mexican man?”
“I don’t think she ever left him.” Ms. Irene’s blind eyes drift around my face. “I think she came here after things… went too far.”
“Went too far?” I look at Mindy, who’s looking at me with raised eyebrows. “Does that mean…”
“You know what it means!” Mindy stage-whispers. “Your grandmother was a ho.”
“Melinda Claire Ray!” Miss Jessica swats her with the remaining three envelopes. “Kimberly was a wonderful girl. She just got a little mixed up. It happens.”
Miss Jessica is an old maid, if I remember what Mindy told me. Still, I’m not interested in what she knows about love triangles. I’m wondering if this crazy story might be what has Angel’s brother so pissed at the Drings.
I take Miss Jessica’s hand again. “Do you have any idea where I could find out the other man’s name?”
“You have the letter.” She nods towards it. “I’m sorry that’s all I know.”
Looking down at the faded ink on paper, I wonder if I can wait the two-and-a-half-hour drive home to read it… Nope.
I’m not even sure I can wait to get to the parking lot.
“Thank you for telling me this.” I stand, sliding the envelope into my pocket.
Ms. Irene reaches for Mindy and slowly rises to her feet. She grasps my forearm. “I’m sorry if I upset you with that story.”
“You didn’t.” I lean down to hug her carefully. “You actually might have helped me.”
“Well, I hope so. I would never want to hurt anyone.”
“I’d better get on back, but I’ll be here for the festival.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful. Come see us, will you?”
Miss Jessica stands, holding my arm. “Don’t be too hard on your ancestors. They were human just like us.”
“As in everybody makes mistakes?” I give her a wink.
“Exactly.” Her tone reminds me of a school teacher, and we walk slowly to the exit. “Jesus said he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
“Don’t worry.” I give her a final hug. “I’m not planning to stone anybody.”
I’m trying to get certain people to put down their rocks.
“See you in a few weeks.” Mindy gives me a quick hug before guiding the ladies in the direction of the cafeteria.
I dash out to my car, hopping inside and whipping out the envelope. The paper is yellowed and fragile, and the words are faded and written in an ancient, swirling script. Still, they’re legible.
Dear Winona,
I miss you so much, my dearest friend. Rogers is gone again. Each time his trips seem to last longer and longer. Brandt started kindergarten, and I find myself alone so much. I used to cry every day.
It’s not like spending summers with you in Harristown. How I long for homemade peach ice cream and swimming in the lake, picking peaches off the trees and walking through the meadows…
I scan over her descriptions down to a name that causes my breath to still.
Manuel gave me chocolate with chili pepper yesterday. Isn’t that exotic? He brought me lilacs and yellow roses. You should see how beautiful they are together, and the scent…
Manuel. Shit. Here it is. I skim through her descriptions of flowers and dresses and air conditioning until I get to the critical part.
You have to help me, my dear, dear friend. I’m sorry to put you in this position, but I have to stay with you at least until the child is born and we know. What would I do if I were alone here, and everyone saw what I’d done. Rogers would be humiliated.
