Page 127 of January

“Mom, we’re making progress here. Don’t say anything you’ll regret later.”

Her mom nodded and said, “I like her. She’s…”

“Spunky?” Kyle finished.

“She stood up for you.”

“She did.”

“I never did that,” her mother said.

“No, you didn’t,” Kyle replied, sighing and then swallowing.

“I didn’t know how to, Kyle.”

“I know,” she said.

“Mom, learn how. Get help,” Jolie added, placing her hand on top of their mother’s on the table. “Please. It’s been over thirty years. Just stop fighting and try.”

Their mother didn’t say anything at first. She just looked around the diner instead.

“Where’s the waiter? I’m hungry.”

Jolie pulled her hand away and turned to Kyle.

“Do you two want something to eat?” their mother asked. “Pancakes? My treat.”

“Sure, Mom,” Kyle replied, recognizing this as their mother taking that important first step.

“Mom, Ky is going to buy me a couple of pressed pennies today. Do you want to come with us before you fly home?” Jolie asked.

The woman shook her head and said, “No, I think I’ll let you girls have your fun.”

“It’s the best we’re going to get for now,” Kyle said softly to Jolie. “I’m proud of you,” she whispered, smiling at her younger sister, who smiled back at her.

CHAPTER 34

“Are you sure you want me here?” Melinda asked.

“Yes. You don’t have to be ifyoudon’t want to be, though,” Kyle replied.

“No, I want to be. It just seems like a family thing.”

“Since we’re already on our way, it kind of feels like a moot point, doesn’t it?” Jolie reasoned.

“When do you go home?” Kyle asked as she leaned forward and turned to Jolie.

“In two hours. You know that. Walk faster,” Jolie replied.

Melinda was holding Kyle’s hand as they walked through the massive cemetery outside of the city. The mausoleums with their concrete angels and crosses rose up around them. Melinda had always been fascinated with the cemeteries in Louisiana. Due to being below sea level, people weren’t really buried. They got mausoleums that sometimes held other members of their family. It was yet another way to indicate how much money a person or a family had had. It wasn’t supposed to be the size that counted, but some of the mausoleums were massive while others were much smaller. Some had little to no decoration, while others had massive saints and ornate stone carvings.

They’d driven to the cemetery in Bridgette’s car, had gone into the office together to ask where their grandmother was buried, and had been given a map with a circle on it. Now, they were walking along the path to that section of the cemetery. Kyle had asked her to go with them, and Melinda wanted to be supportive, but she also didn’t want to get in the way of her and Jolie saying their goodbyes.

When Kyle stopped, Melinda looked ahead.

“We’re here,” Jolie said.

Melinda let go of Kyle’s hand, expectingthe two women to walk ahead a few more steps and leave her behind. Instead, Kyle looked down at their now-unconnected hands and reconnected them, entwining their fingers and giving Melinda a smile that said that she wanted her to be there, too. Melinda nodded, and they walked a few more steps toward the mausoleum, which held not only Kyle’s grandmother but also her grandfather. There were two doors and an angel on either side, along with stone-carved vines and a cross atop the mausoleum.

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