Bree, they gathered in the small writer’s room. The main lights in the gallery were off so that Bree wouldn’t suspect anything.
When Judith texted they were running late and would let them know once they had left the house, Cindy said they had time to do what Mary wanted to do and look at her DNA results with all of them present for her.
“Did you get yours yet?” Mary asked Mimi and Janet.
“We downloaded the app, we just haven’t looked yet,” Janet replied. “I’m a little afraid to look.”
“Me too. I didn’t want to be alone when I looked.”
“Do the three of you want to do that now?” Cindy asked.
“Please,” the three of them said together.
Mimi knew her parents, so she wasn’t expecting any surprises, so she looked first. Most of her family hadn’t done the test yet, so she saw a few distant cousins. It surprised her to learn how many nationalities made up her genetic base.
Maybe everyone should have to do this, Mimi thought to herself. Then people would have to stop putting people into different races and see we are all one.
“Your turn,” Mimi said to Mary.
“Why not Janet first?”
“I think it’s you, Mary,” Cindy said. “Your baby is waiting to know, too.”
Mary reached down, took out the necklace that had been hiding below her sweater, and kissed it.
“For good luck!” she explained when she saw everyone looking. “My mom gave it to me. I used to wear it all the time to remind myself that I was still the same person even though mom kept moving us around and changing our names. So it was a reminder that we were the same people no matter what name we used.
“I haven’t worn it for a while because now that I feel settled and at home here in Spring Falls with my husband, I didn’t need a necklace to remind me.
“All I had to do was look around and see my friends and home, and now this wee one reminds me every time she kicks. But I thought I would wear it tonight to bring my mom along with me.”
“Wait,” Mimi squealed. “You know it’s a girl?”
Mary giggled. “Not officially. It just feels that way.”
It was Janet who noticed that the three Ruby Sisters had gone silent and were exchanging looks.
“What’s up with you three?”
Cindy took a deep breath and asked, “Where did you say you got that necklace?”
“My mom. Why?”
“And why did you move all the time and change your name?”
“Wait, what’s going on?” Mary asked, the color draining out of her face.
“Well, it is weird you did that,” Janet said. “I know we did the same thing, but I always thought it was weird. Sure, people often move a lot, as we did, but they rarely change their name every time.”
Mary hesitated, feeling as if something terrible had happened, and now she was going to find out why.
“I guess. I asked mom once, and she said she liked change. She made it fun, even though I was not fond of it all that much. When right before she died she told me she had adopted me, I wanted to ask her all kinds of questions. I tried, but she kept saying it was best not to know, and I went with that.”
“But you have the results of your DNA in your hand, so you must want to know now,” Janet said.
“Sure. It seems important that my baby knows where she comes from, just in case...” Mary trailed off, looking at the Ruby Sisters.
“You know something, don’t you?” she asked. “The three of you know something, and you are afraid to tell me. What is it!”
“Well, we don’t know anything for sure. But we know someone who used to have a necklace just like that,” Cindy said.
“And seriously, girlfriend,” Mimi said, “That moving around thing is weird. Are you sure you weren’t hiding from someone?”
“Oh, god,” Mary said, turning pale. “We were hiding from someone. How did I not see that?”
At that moment, Cindy’s phone pinged. What timing, she thought. Saved by the bell.
“Listen, Mary. Everything is okay, but Bree is on her way, and she’s had such a hard time. Could we wait and do all of this afterward? I promise, Mary, we will be here for you as you work this out.”
Mary stood, trying to hold herself steady despite feeling like her legs had just been kicked out from underneath her.
“Of course. Why not? Besides, I don’t think I want to see the answer right now. But I need to freshen up just a bit, if you don’t mind.”
When Cindy moved to come with her, she said, “Don’t worry. I’m okay. Just need a moment.”
Marsha stood and asked, “Mary, could I see your necklace? I want to check something on my computer. Maybe it only looks familiar because of the design. It will just take a moment, and I’ll give it right back to you.”
Mary nodded, and April stepped behind her and unclasped the necklace, handing it to Marsha. When Mary walked out of the room, the three Ruby Sisters sighed as Marsha put the necklace into her pocket.
“What is that about?” Janet asked.
“You just don’t want her to be wearing the necklace right now, do you?” Mimi said.
At that moment, they all heard Judith’s car pull up and rushed to the gallery, waiting for the signal from Judith.
“Why are we here?” They heard Bree ask Judith as they stood outside the gallery door.
“Sorry. Cindy left me some papers, and it would be easier for me to pick them up now so I can work on them the first thing in the morning.”
Judith turned the key in the lock and flicked on the light switch, illuminating the magic fairyland the six women had created.
“Oh,” Bree breathed. “It’s beautiful.”
“Surprise!” Cindy, April, Marsha, Mimi, and Janet said. “Happy Birthday!”
“You are so bad!” Bree said, hugging Judith. “But this is beautiful. Thank you.”
Seeing Mary walk into the room, Bree turned to her and said, “You look beautiful, Mary! Pregnancy agrees with you.”
Mary hugged Bree as she said, “Thank you,” and then stepped back and looked at Marsha.
“Why is she wearing my necklace?”
Crap, Cindy thought. Of all nights to wear that, Bree.
Bree’s hand went to her throat. “Your necklace? Do you have one like this? My husband gave me this.”
Marsha reached into her pocket and handed Mary her necklace.
“And her mother gave her this one.”
Judith took one look at the scene and realized what everyone was thinking. Standing together, Bree and Mary looked almost alike. How had they not seen that before? Was it possible?
“Well,” Cindy said, taking over. “This has the makings of an unforgettable birthday party. Perhaps we should open your DNA app now in this magical room, Mary. Shall we?”
“Did you get your DNA results yet, Bree?” Cindy asked.
“Yes. Afraid to open it, though.”
“Well, now is the time. You first, though, Mary.”
“Can’t. My hands are shaking too hard.”
“Let me,” Judith said, taking the phone and looking at the results.
Her voice catching, she said, “Well, it turns out, Mary, that you have found your mother. Her name is Rhoberta Curtis.”
“Can’t be,” Bree breathed in.
“And yet it is,” Judith said.
“Wait, you know who she is?” Mary asked, looking at Bree and Judith.
Cindy and April had begun to cry, and Mary felt as if all the blood had gone to her head, thinking that it was true. Something terrible had happened.
Mimi and Janet stood to the side, holding hands, knowing they were watching something happen that should be impossible.
“What’s happening?” Mary whispered.
Judith walked to Mary, took her hand, and then reached out and pulled Bree close to her. She could feel Bree trembling as tears gathered and overflowed.
“Mary, meet Rhoberta Curtis. Otherwise known as Bree Mann or R.B. Curtis. Our Bree. Your mother.”