where Alan was born
what his full name is
and let her think I needed the facts
for my project.
Now, Olivia types his name
in the search box.
Ms. Cleary wanders toward us.
I elbow Olivia
and she glances up
clicking over to the library’s homepage
just as Ms. Cleary
stops
at our desk.
Need any help?
she asks
and we both shake our heads
say no
a little too quickly.
Ms. Cleary’s smile disappears.
She says something
I don’t catch
but when she comes around behind us
to glance at the monitor
I know
she’s suspicious.
Olivia starts talking
signs for my benefit
babbles about how you never really know
the true stories about people’s past.
Why did she say
all that?
She looks super-guilty
even though digging for the truth
is maybe not
such a terrible thing
to do.
Ms. Cleary’s eyebrows
knit together
so I jump in
start signing
tell her about Marjorie.
She shakes her head
says
I don’t understand.
I start again
and Olivia interprets for Ms. Cleary
tries to keep up
signals me to
s l o w d o w n.
I sigh
then try one more time
to tell her about Marjorie
the pilot
how you’d never guess it
to look at her now
—but why not?
Why do we think
we can know anything about a person
by how they look
what they can do
what life is like for them now?
Because it turns out
we really can’t.
The only way to know that stuff
is if someone
tells you the story.
Whew.
I blab even more
than Olivia.
Olivia takes a minute
to catch up with my words
does the best she can
gives up when my hands
get going too quickly again
but even so
Ms. Cleary’s eyebrows
finally relax.
She walks away
disappears into the stacks
comes back a few minutes later
with a smile and a book
about women
in aviation.
She hands the book to me
says
Maybe your friend
is in here.
Then she shrugs
says, “You never know.”
You never do.
Which reminds me of my mission
which is about Alan
not Marjorie
or airplanes
or history
but
I’m definitely checking out this book
for later.
Ms. Cleary goes back to her desk
and Olivia
goes back to searching.
By the time lunch break ends
we haven’t found anything
except where Alan works
as a dentist
—which is no secret—
but Olivia jots notes
on a scrap of paper
stuffs it in her jeans pocket
vows to search until she uncovers
something juicy.
Chapter 29
Mom flicks through dresses
on the rack
not really looking
just passing the time
while we wait.
The shopkeeper emerges
from the back
our dresses slung
over her arm.
The woman shoos us
into change rooms.
I try on the lavender dress
freshly hemmed
for new sandals
to go with it.
Mom peeks in
says
Beautiful
then beckons me.
Come and see.
I slide the curtain aside
step out
where Mom poses
in her wedding dress.
Vintage, she calls it
not quite white
antique lace
knee length.
No veil
no trailing skirt
but it’s exactly right
for her.
Back at home
we climb out of the car
collect our dresses
shoes
the pale lipstick
Mom said I could wear
for the wedding
and it’s only then
—walking up to the house
I’ll be leaving—
that the day’s shine
falls away
a cloud
moving over the sun
as I remember
what it’s all leading up to.
Iris stands on her front step
swishes a broom
one way
then the other.
She pauses
waves
chats with Mom
for a minute.
She wants to brighten up
the front of her house
Mom tells me
so it appeals
to buyers. She wants to know
if it’s too late
to plant nasturtiums.
It’s fine
I say.
They grow fast.
Tell her I can plant them for her
if she’d like.
Iris would like that
very much
so after I stow my wedding outfit
in my room
I go next door.
Iris pulls an envelope of seeds
from her apron pocket
points out a large pot
and I get to work
loosen the soil
press round seeds
into dark earth
shower them with water.
Now we wait
I say
both hands palm up
wiggling my fingers.
Iris extends the leaf-green notebook.
You’re a good neighbor, Macy.
I’ll miss you.
My eyes sting
as if it’s a big deal
Iris is moving one place
and I’m moving another.
But that’s crazy...
except that
it’s not.
I ask for the pen
write below her message.
You’re coming to the wedding
aren’t you?
I wouldn’t miss it
for anything.
As I cross the lawn
to my house
I glance back at the pot
flower seeds waiting
to sprout
and I know
I’ll be long gone
before they do.
Chapter 30
Construction paper
scissors
marker.
Iris Gillan
neighbor
rainbow goddess
storyteller
friend.
I add the leaf
to my project.
Chapter 31
A message from Olivia
pops up
on the computer.
Jackpot!
My heart speeds up
thuds madly
beneath my ribs.
She found something?
Something big?
I glance over my shoulder.
Mom’s curled up
on the corner of the couch
lost in a book
but then
argh!
she looks up at me
smiles
says
It must be time
for bed.
I message Olivia back.
Can’t chat now.
But I have to know
so I add
Mission accomplished?
Her reply appears
a moment later.
Definitely.
Wow.
I knew it.
This is awesome.
I log off
say goodnight to Mom
go upstairs
but there’s no way
I’ll be able to sleep.
It’s ages before I drift off
then I sleep late
wonder why the vibrations from my alarm
didn’t wake me
until I realize
I forgot to set it.
I miss walking to school with Olivia
dash into class late
and earn a recess detention
from Mr. Tanaka.
Finally at lunch
Olivia and I get a chance to talk
in private.
She’s near breathless
with the news.
You won’t believe it
she says.
I found a newspaper article.
It’s crazy.
Tell me!
The twins
—he kidnapped them!
Kidnapped?
Four years ago.
He took them
to M-e-x-i-c-o.
No.
I can’t think
can’t believe.
This makes
no
sense.
You mean
they’re not his kids?
Olivia’s eyes are saucers
as she tells me the details.
They are.
He was married before, right?
He took the girls
and his wife reported it
sent the police after him
hauled them back
over the border.
No wonder she divorced him!
The twins would’ve been
two years old
and he…
whoa.
This is big.
This is enormous.
This
is miles better
than I’d hoped
—and miles
worse.
Chapter 32
After school
we rush to my room
close the door.
Olivia pulls a folded paper
from her back pocket
opens it to reveal
a news article
she printed from the Internet.
Her hands
smooth the creases
slide the page
toward me
finger tapping at the headline.
Local Dentist Questioned in Kidnapping Case
I scan the article
see his name
twin girls
taken
Mexico
but it feels like I’m reading
about strangers.
Is this a real newspaper
or a gossip one?
I ask Olivia.
It’s real.
I’m pretty sure.
It’ll do the trick
and you won’t have to move
to the new house.
It’ll stay just you
and your mom.
I should be excited
and part of me is
but there’s a seed
of sadness
buried deep inside
that I’m trying to pretend
isn’t there.
It’s what you wanted
right?
says Olivia.
I refold the page
tuck it behind the books
on my shelf.
Olivia and I head to the dining room
where it appears as if a craft store
exploded.
I guess I should’ve cleaned up
after my last failed attempt
at crafting.
We twist
shape
tie
until the last of the centerpieces
is complete.
All that work
—that not-my-specialty work—
finally finished
thanks to Olivia.
I’d be sunk
if she weren’t part
of my story.
That night before bed
I cut another leaf
pale green construction paper
write her name
her birthday
and the date we met
—first day
of second grade—
add details of our story
words like veins
in the leaf
best friend
expert crafter.
I need more
another story line
but for now
this is perfect.
Chapter 33
We’re barely in the door
twins swarm me
shepherding me
toward the stairs
both of them trying
to sign something
without a pause
in their perpetual motion.
Room. They’re signing room
—even Kaitlin, now that her finger
is fixed. They pull me
into Alan’s barren box of an office.
It’s utterly empty
utterly drab.
Alan the kidnapper appears
at my shoulder.
It’s ready any time
you want to move stuff in
he says.
You mean never?
His face falls.
Mom rebukes
but she doesn’t know the truth.
Why is it so hard
to tell her?
To blurt it out?
Maybe if the twins
weren’t right here.
As pesky as they are
they’re not to blame
for their dad
being a kidnapper.
Mom’s not to blame either
but she needs to know.
I focus on the beige wall.
Can I paint it?
Judging by the rest
of his bland house
he’ll say no
to color
which might as well be no
to joy
—one more reason
he’s not stepdad material.
But the kidnapper says
What color?
Purple
—not lavender
or lilac
but bright
bold
lupine purple.
I’m sure that crosses the line
is more than Bland Kidnapper Man
can take.
“Purple?” he says.
He turns to the twins
signs as he speaks to them.
She wants a purple room!
Bethany and Kaitlin
eyes round
mouths dropping open
suddenly bounce across the hallway
like jumping beans.
Kaitlin flings open their door
and I peer in
—bunk beds with polka-dot quilts
fuschia rug
bold purple walls.
I can’t help it
—a smile
sneaks onto my face.
Mom taps my shoulder.
Alan has something to show you
outside.
I follow her
the twins follow me
a ragtag parade
through the house
out
to the backyard.
I jerk to a stop
wide-eyed.
Almost half
of the not-very-big-to-begin-with lawn
is torn up
gone
leaving a plot
of freshly turned earth
rich
and dark.