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“After the first date I had with him,” I say, setting the microwave timer. “You slept at Mrs. Sanderson’s.”
“You sneaky fox!” Sophia smiles while nodding, looking at me with a victorious glance.
I shake my head one more time, covering my mouth with my hand. I confide, “It wasn’t the first time we had sex!”
My little sister widens her eyes and leans back, shocked by the confession.
“When was the first time?” she asks with wide eyes.
“After the ball,” I say. “Remember?”
“You came back with that dress, so beautiful,” Sophia says, airy.
I smile, remembering Mrs. Ritz.
The timer chimes and my food is hot. I take it carefully to the table, then go grab a fork and knife and ask Sophia, “See if there’s something to drink?”
Sophia opens the fridge and looks inside. “There’s orange juice and soda,” she says. Looking at me with longing in her eyes, she asks, “Can I have a can of soda?”
“Well,” I think for a second, but realizing it’s Friday night and that she can sleep in a little later, I nod. “Grab me one too.”
I eat, we both drink and then we go sit in front of the TV, where we both fall asleep. When Gabby arrives the next morning at 6:30 AM, I am drooling over the three-seater, and Sophia has collapsed over mom’s chair.
“What happened here?” Gabby wants to know, looking at us with disbelief.
“We camped in the living room!” Sophia says, stretching her arms up high.
“Huh, I’m so glad it’s summer,” I say, hiding under my blanket.
I’ve been so tired lately, especially with my commute time. Fortunately, in the morning, I get out when traffic isn’t too bad, but nights are a beast. I just hope Mrs. Jefferson won’t ask me for overtime more often because I’m free.
“It’s early, keep sleeping,” Gabby continues. “Cora wants me to make my famous baked ziti for your boyfriend.”
“Want me to do it?” I ask, still half-dreaming.
“Nah, you’ll be busy bringing Cora back,” she waves me off.
“Logan offered to pick her up with me.” I open my eyes and see Gabby smile and pat my feet.
“You struck it big, Joyce,” Gabby says, while Sophia stands and heads for the kitchen. “Don’t let him get away!”
“I won’t,” I say, but letting out a deep sigh, I wonder when things will blow up in my face. That’s what always seems to happen with the people I care about. I lost my father when I was Sophia’s age, now my mother is sick, I lost my best friend, and all there’s missing is me losing Logan too.
As much as I try to live positively, I can’t shake this awful thought.
“I’ll go shower, then eat, then take a nap. Let’s all go to the store later, so we can buy the ingredients, okay?” Gabby says, standing up.
When Sophia returns with another can of soda and a bag of chips, I’m too tired to protest and just fall asleep again, dreaming about a road to the future that will not crumble under my feet.
Chapter Twenty-Two
LOGAN
Joyceholdsmyhandas we enter the hospital. I’m not nervous — okay, maybe a little — but mostly I’m ecstatic for her. When cancer hit my life, I didn’t get the chance to see my loved one come home.
Anna follows us inside the elevator, where the hand-holding switches to a hug. She looks up at me and I kiss her on the forehead.
“Are you nervous?” The elevator stops on the second floor, and two nurses get in.
