Page 59 of Just Dare Me
My mom and dad’s hands are clasped together on the table, a rare show of physical affection. They love each other—that’s never been in question—but they hardly have occasion to touch each other, mostly because Mom is too hyperactive to ever sit still long enough. She catches me watching them with a smile. She smiles back with a tear in her eye.
Elle and Dominique are huddled close throughout the entire meal. Elle points from one person to another, giving full histories and family ties, no doubt with emphasis on connections to eligible bachelors to add to their list.
There’s only one full plate of food that has not been touched—it sits in front of Charlotte, who stares into the fire while Russo steals worried glances at her.
All conversation is about Bunica, of course, alternating between laughter, tears, and the occasional cringe. My only contribution is to ask how old she really was. Ever since I can remember, we just called her a hundred years old, but actually, Mom informs us, she was a hundred and fifty-seven.
When Dad suggests we offer a silent toast to that many years, Mom jumps to her feet, suddenly nervous. “Not just yet, actually. I know, I know, it’s time, and you’re right. You’re right.” She eyes the empty chair with a painful grimace, followed by a concerted attempt to smile. “But, as you all know, first we need to have given away her personal belongings, and there’s still one left.”
Reaching behind her neck, Mom unclasps a chain, on which a ring dangles, glinting in the firelight. I recognize the ring with a surge of nostalgia. Bunica used to wear it, back when I was a little girl.
“I’ve kept this for years, ever since Dottie’s fingers got too thin. It would slide up and down her finger between knuckles. She finally took it off, scared of losing it, and asked me to keep it safe.” She holds the ring up, showing off a turquoise blue stone. “It’s a birthstone. Blue zircon, for December. There’s a few other December birthdays here, but only one of us also shares the same day with Bunica.”
All eyes, of course, turn to me. My throat constricts with emotion at the thought of having something so tangible to remember my Little Bunica by. I’ve never felt so honored.
Mom grins at the surprise on my face. “Shayne used to complain about sharing a birthday with her Bunica. I’ve always hoped this ring would make up for it.”
I don’t even care that Mom—in true Mom fashion—has used this moment to sneak in yet another guilt trip. First of all, she’s right, I was so stupid to complain about Bunica stealing all the attention on our birthdays. I’d give anything just for one more birthday with her. And second of all, guilt me all you want, but just give me the ring! I’m greedy for it now. I need it.
As if sensing that I’m seconds away from jumping out of my seat to snatch the ring, Mom’s grin fades. She pulls it close to her chest and says, “However.”
I rock back in my seat.However?What however? There’s nohowever!
“I keep thinking about the last thing Dottie said to me.” Mom sets her jaw, her eyes drifting to a painful memory. “It shouldn’t have been the last time we ever talked. There was still time, when I should have told her so many things—everything she meant to me.” She falters—not only in voice, but in her knees. She’s completely exhausted. My dad squeezes her hand, giving her strength to continue. “But I didn’t, and so the last thing she said to me was that it would be my choice, when she was gone, who to give the ring to. I was confused at the time. What other choice was there? I must have looked just like Shayne looks now.”
Everybody snickers, looking at me. I’m dumbstruck. Can’t imagine where she’s going with this.
“Now I know what she meant, and of course she’s right. Dottie was always right about everything, and I was always,alwaysplaying catch-up to her. Tonight is no exception. It’s too little, too late for some of us.” She looks to Mrs. Cody, sitting next to Nolan, sniffling. “I’m sorry, Marlene. If there’s blame to be given for what happened to your Ben, that blame is mine, not Shayne’s. Because I should have done this from the start.” To everyone’s shock, Mom then turns to the seat next to mine, extending her hand.
Offering the ring to Jay.
After a stunned delay, my darling but sometimes dense husband leaps to his feet so fast that his chair falls backward with a clatter, and he gets caught halfway between wanting to pick it up and trying to address Mom, and then there’s me slapping at his hands, hissing at him to forget the damn chair. By the time he stands straight to look my mom in the eyes, she’s beaming brightly to a chorus of chuckles.
“The first time Bunica ever met Detective Brenner, she was eavesdropping on him while he sat on the back steps of our home, having a long conversation with a mangy stray fox, pouring his heart out to it, because he thought it was Shayne.” Mom pauses for comedic effect, then turns serious. “And ever since then, Jay Brenner, she said you were the one. Dottie knew it before anybody.”
“No, ma’am,” Jay says. “Not before me.”
After a resoundingawwwwwwwfrom the peanut gallery, Mom takes Jay’s hand, opens it, and while placing the ring into his palm, says, “I think Bunica knew that if I chose to give the ring to you, Jay, you would know exactly what to do with it.”
“I do,” Jay responds, to which my mom raises her brows, and Jay’s like,oh, right, and he whirls to face me, repeating, “I do.” And he gets down on one knee.
It’s like we had planned a comedy routine, because now I shoot to my feet so fast that my chair joins his in the dirt. Jay slides the ring onto my finger, a perfect fit. As he rises to his feet, so does Dominique. Lifting her glass, she says, “To them.”
Everybody stands, raising their drinks. Dad quickly adds, “And to Dottie’s hundred and fifty-seven years.”
I hold my glass up, but I’m smiling too much to drink from it. It’s such a perfect moment—one last shared honor between me and Bunica.
Well,almostperfect, actually, because Charlotte leaves in tears. Danny apologizes with a look. I gesture for him to go after her and he backs away from the table, making a discreet exit. I can feel Mom dying to ask me what that’s all about, and since I don’t put it past her to bring it up in front of everybody, I decide that now’s a good time to drop my bombshell.
“Well, hey, since we’re all standing now, I want to say something. Actually, first I better ask permission to take the floor, since this will be something of an official matter. Ray, you good with that?”
Ray turns to Blanche, who smiles, then elbows Randy, who is unsure what’s happening, so he blurts, “Yes?” Ray nods in the affirmative.
“Thank you. I’m not gonna beat around the bush. We all know I’m shit at speeches, and even worse at sharing my feelings, especially to saysorry, orthank you, oryou were right, orI’ve been so stupid and blind. Pretty much, I’ve been just theworstto many of you here…but to one of you in particular.” My throat threatens to close up. This is much harder than I thought it would be. “Anyways. Since I’m technically out on my own now, I can act as a disinterested third party between packs, isn’t that right?”
Ray should answer, but Mom’s too impatient. “A mediator? What are you talking about? Between who?”
I give a thumbs-up to Nora, who gives a thumbs up to Rook, waiting in the background. He then gestures to somebody hidden between trailers, and out walk three people—two gruff men with full beards, and a beautiful blonde woman with rosy cheeks and big, bright eyes that go directly to Nolan. She lights up, flashing a full smile between deep dimples. Nolan’s so startled to see her that he bowls over his chair. Another one bites the dust.
