I NEVER KNEW a shower could feel so good. I had to show Grandma how the system worked—the industrial hose rigged to the post over the big metal tub at the back of the warehouse. Not fancy, but it does the job. Like me, she’s just happy to be clean again. I found her coziest robe, which she really appreciated. Now she’s settled in with us around the stove. We’re sharing what’s left of last night’s bean stew.
“Is this where you two used to live?” Grandma asks Margo.
Margo almost chokes on her beans.
“Jessica, please!” she says. “I hope you think I have better taste than this!”
“I thought it might have been nicer,” says Grandma. “You know…back then.”
“This place has never been less than dreadful,” says Margo. “A warehouse is a warehouse.”
Lamont looks at me. I can tell his mind is working. Earlier, he scolded me for running off. Now he wants to know what I know.
“You said you saw something,” he says. “What was it?”
I tell him about the food posters going up all over the city, and the people crowding around.
“The Most Beautiful Day,” I say. “I think that’s when it’s going to happen.”
“That’s Monday,” says Grandma.
“Most Beautiful Day?” says Margo. “What’s that?”
“It’s the only holiday left,” says Grandma. “At least, the only one allowed. It’s the one day when people can gather without worrying about getting arrested, let off a little steam, share whatever food they have. It’s the one day a year when people can feel good.”
“And this is the first time the government has promised free food for everybody,” I say.
“Free food?” says Margo. “Nonsense. Sounds like an excuse to round everybody up.”
Lamont looks at me. “I think it’s worse than that.”
“Well, Lamont,” says Grandma, “does the Shadow have a plan? Can we help?”
“Jessica,” says Lamont. “Aren’t you the same person who just escaped from a top-security prison? It might be a good idea for you to lower your profile for a while.”
Grandma doesn’t have a comeback, which is rare. I think the long day is finally catching up to her. Her chin is tipped down and I can see from the way she moves that her whole body is sore. Lamont sees it too.
“We’ll talk tomorrow,” he says. “You two should get some sleep.”
Margo leans over and wraps her arms around Grandma’s neck.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she says.
“I’m glad you’re here too,” says Grandma.
Lamont and Margo head off toward their nook. That leaves me and Grandma in front of the stove, with Bando snoring at my feet. When I think about what happened in the past twenty-four hours, my head starts to spin. There were so many things that could have gone wrong. But today, I felt like I had no choice. I would have taken any chance to find Grandma and save her. I would have given my life.
“Were you scared, Grandma?” I ask.
She reaches over and brushes the hair out of my face.
“I was afraid of not seeing you again,” she says. “Nothing else.”
The heat from the stove is cozy, and it’s making me tired. I lean up against Grandma. She rubs my head, like she did when I was a little girl. It feels nice.
“Whatever it took to find you, I was going to do it,” I say. “No question.”
Grandma puts her arm around my shoulder and squeezes me tight.
“So, my brave, darling girl,” she says. “I’m learning so much about you. You can make yourself invisible. You can swim. You can bring half-dead people back to life. Is there anything else I need to know?”
“Just one thing.” I lean my head against hers. “I love you.”