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“I’M GOING TO THE MALL with Monica and Jessica. Wanna come?” Faith asked Rose.
They were walking home from school. It was a leisurely stroll they had done many times. They were passing the woods that encompassed the high school.
“Sorry, Faith, I can’t. I’m meeting Jonas later.”
“You two are finally going to talk things out.” Faith sounded approving.
“I don’t know if we can work things out.” Rose cocked her head in Faith’s direction. “It’s a difficult situation.”
“But you two belong together.” She had hold of Rose’s hand, swinging it playfully. “Everything was fine until his freakin’ dad happened.”
Rose’s face mashed in disgust. “I don’t want to go there.”
“I know, but give him a chance, Rose. He’s a great guy.” She drew out the words, letting them drip like thick, creamy soup from a spoon.
“Yes, I know. That’s why I agreed to meet him. It’s not his fault.”
They were passing the salt box houses. The wrinkled old man of a house was hanging on like a stepchild.
“Does Jonas ever talk about his mother?”
“Not really. She died when he was only two.”
Faith’s face lit up like a bright star against a night sky. “I’m getting my bellybutton pierced.” Just like that she had switched the conversation.
Rose stopped walking, openmouthed. The outside air rushed in, filling her lungs. She faced Faith, eyes wide with a paralyzing stare.
Throwing up her hands, Faith said, “I know what you’re gonna say. Mom and Dad will kill me.”
“Actually, that’s not what I was going to say.” Her lips turned up in a blinding smile. “I was thinking I wanted to get mine done.”
The high cheekbones on Faith’s face rose higher. “Close sisters think alike.” Faith looped her arm around her sister’s.
Joe was just coming through the front door as the girls took the first step toward the porch.
“Girls, I left a note on the table for you, but I can tell you now. “He was walking fast and talking. “I’m going to work the late shift at the dealership. Your mom will be home in an hour to start dinner.”
The girls were waving and saying okay as Joe folded himself into the car and drove off.