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Mom had always kept active—though I suspected she didn’t want me to know how much she worked. I planned to send her half the money Paul gave me in Paris, but that would only help some. And I’d need money to stay in Paris for Givenchy if I did go. Would I find another place or roommate? I’d still need a deposit and a job.And another loan….
“Nadia.” Mom’s hand waved in front of me. “You went far away?”
“I’m worried about Dad.”And what I’m going to do with my life.
She nodded. “As am I, love. But he’s in the hands of the best surgeon and nursing staff. I know they’ll take good care of him. After all, they pushed his wife and daughter out after two minutes. He’ll be okay. What dad needs from us is patience, love, and faith. How about a hike through Seven Bridges in Grant Park? We can eat at Kopp’s Frozen Custard, then maybe watch something silly on TV?”
Mom was right. I had to believe Dad would heal. She told me “Our faith gives him strength” the last time he had surgery. What I also realized was that she needed the same from me. However, she didn’t need to stress on her limited time off.
“You don’t need to entertain me, Mom. What wouldyoulike to do?”
“Hike, eat at Kopp’s, and watch TV.”
We laughed together.
“Yes. Let’s do that.”
Mom took the route past our old bakery. Dad’s Crescent Moon Bakery sign was still there, but it was now a hipster coffee lounge with chairs out front and a bowl of water for dogs. Whenever Dad came here with us, he’d always complain about what was there before. Wisconsin was top in education, had good-paying jobs and boasted well-kept streets and roads. He mourns what it used to be, but I saw a bouquet in the middle of weeds. There was still so much beauty here.
Mom parked next to the lot and a small farmer’s market booth in the back corner.
The same lot that once held the trailer was now paved for parking. Even though I was little, I always held an image of the trailer Nora had us stay in.Where she left me forever…
Most times I couldn’t remember her, but here, it was almost as if she was a ghost haunting the lot.
A young woman with long brown hair parted in the middle, wearing a faux fur coat and heeled boots, leans against the side of a white and orange mobile home, smoking a cigarette, while a little girl with messy dark hair in pajamas and a raincoat happily drags a stick through the dirt. She’s going to draw a muffin like the ones inside the bakery….
“Nadia,” Mom’s voice held alarm, and I came out of my trance.
I blinked rapidly.Was it real?“Did Nora smoke?”
Mom scoffed. “Nora coughed more than she smoked. I think she told me that a guy said she looked cool smoking. Honestly, she looked too young to smoke. I couldn’t believe she was twenty-two. She was so tiny, and the way she behaved. Whew! She was like an ornery teen.” Mom frowned and shook her head dismissively. “Anyway, enough of that. The booth over there has good acorn squash that we can roast with butter and brown sugar.” Mom pulled me from my thoughts, and my gaze moved to hers. “Oh, we can also get a loaf of sunflower pumpkin and sesame seed bread from Great Harvest.”
I laughed, shaking my head. Mom’s enthusiasm over a sweet veggie and bread was a sight to behold. But then again, that was me most of the time here, too.
“That’s like, two different directions?” I glanced at the lot again and then in the opposite direction. It had me wondering why, of all the places in the world, Nora had chosen south Milwaukee.Had Nora come from here? Does she still live here?
“Yeah, but I have you here, and you like it,” she said with a wave of her hand.
I chewed on my lip. Rarely did I ever ask mom about Nora. When I was younger, I feared she’d think I wanted to return to her, which I didn’t. However, only a few hours ago, I was questioned about Justus Black. How had that connection been made? What had the reporter suggested that Justus wanted with me?It was completely bizarre. Unwanted.I glanced at Mom, and she laughed.
“You’re being awfully mysterious. What is it, Nadia?”
“Mom…why did Nora choose here? I mean, was she from here?” I kept my tone as casual as I could. Still, Mom tapped the steering wheel and went quiet for a few moments.
“Dad found her with you in downtown Milwaukee. He used to make food donation deliveries to the Rescue Mission….”
“The homeless shelter?”
She nodded. “She said she was from California, but we saw something in her laundry that said North Dakota. I think she may have lied to make herself sound worldly.”
I grinned. “California is worldly?”
Mom shrugged. “For smaller towners, it is.”
“So she was traveling with me.”
I waited, and Mom went quiet. I looked over, and she had lowered her head.
