Authors: Marissa Kennerson
“Really?” Twig was surprised. Gran seemed so easygoing.
“Listen, those are stories for another day. I will say that being a woman, as you are finding out, is a complicated thing, and being a mother is an even more complicated thing.” Gran looked thoughtfully at Twig for a moment. “But alas, let’s get you dressed!”
Gran’s closet was as big as her bedroom and was like something out of a fantasy for any girl, but especially for Twig, who had been relegated to a life of white eyelet dresses and brown, worse-for-wear hiking boots.
“Behold, Gran’s vice.” Gran swept her hand around the small room where she kept her clothes, shoes, bags, and jewelry.
Twig gasped.
Things shimmered and sparkled, begging to be touched, sifted through. Twig ran her hand across the many different kinds of fabrics. Everything was hung by color. Cashmere sweaters, silk dresses, satin skirts, high heels, flats, scarves, jackets—you name it.
“I can’t wear a third of it in this climate. But I’ve collected it from across the whole world, and the wardrobe goes with me wherever I go.”
Twig thought about Leo calling her a mystery. Gran was the real mystery.
“Daniel will be picking Leo and Hazel up at the hotel any minute now, and we have lots to do to get you ready. I’m thinking something Audrey-like. Something simple but gorgeous.”
The guest list for the dinner party was small and almost perfect. Leo and Hazel were meeting Daniel in the lobby of their hotel in Turrialba, and he would drive them to Gran’s and then back to the hotel after dinner. Avery—Twig couldn’t wait for her to meet Leo and Hazel—Gran, Daniel, and his mother Magdalena would all be there. Only Ryan was missing. Even if she could have convinced him to come, there was just no way they could manage it. Twig couldn’t even think of a way to sneak him out, and even if she could, it would be too great a risk for all of them. It was disgusting what Avery and Twig had done to get out of dinner, but there was no other way. It had involved a duo of public vomiting at lunch. Everyone had shooed Avery and Twig to their cottage. The two women knew no one would want to see them until the morning.
Twig fingered a steel-gray silk dress that had enormous foamy green flowers embroidered into the fabric. The flowers looked as if they were glowing.
“Ah, good taste. Yves Saint Laurent for Christian Dior, 1959.”
“Oh,” Twig said, none of those names meaning anything to her. “It’s marvelous.”
Gran used a hairdryer—Twig was appalled she’d gone her entire life without one—to make Twig’s hair stick straight and then pulled it back into a severe ponytail. She twisted the tail into a thick donut bun on at the base of Twig’s neck.
“Ah, very Hitchcock. I like it. More Grace Kelly than Audrey, but Audrey would approve.”
Twig looked in the mirror. She barely recognized herself. She looked so glamorous, so put together. So unapproachable.
“The dress will soften it,” Gran said, as if reading her mind.
Twig stepped into the dress. The silk rustled, making a delicious sound. Gran zipped up the back. It fit perfectly despite Gran’s height.
“You are vintage size, darling. Things always came up short for me, not that that stopped me.”
The neckline of the dress scooped wonderfully low without showing a thing. The bodice was fitted, showing off Twig’s small waist, and a full skirt bloomed beneath. The sleeves ran three quarters of the way down Twig’s arms. She felt slightly embarrassed and slightly exhilarated by how sexy her body looked and felt in the dress. She hoped Leo would like it.
Gran laid some beautiful yellow and gold glass beads across Twig’s neck.
“I like the contrast with the gray. Do you?” Gran steered Twig to the mirror.
“Yes!” Twig smiled. “I feel like I’ve stepped into one of your magazines.”
“It’s very 1950s housewife glamour. And these to match.” Gran held up a satiny pair of grey ballerina flats. Suddenly she frowned. “What size are you?”
“An eight and a half, I think.” Twig only had one pair of shoes to compare.
“Well, I’m a nine. Should work.”
Twig looked at herself in the mirror again. Gran had put a little mascara on Twig’s already long lashes and added some light pink lip gloss to her lips. Simple, elegant, and understated.
“Let’s go get the food out, darling. You’re perfect.”
Twig gasped when she walked outside. She nearly dropped the big bowl of salad she was carrying.
Gran had outdone herself.
A long table was set beneath an overhang of trees. It was covered in a turquoise fabric that had a slight sheen to it and carefully set with an eclectic mix of dishes and glasses. Pink ceramic, red glass, Twig’s favorite green and gold dishes, small bowls of white orchids, and a runner made from a piece of mirror lined with small white candles.
Twig put her bowl down and did a twirl, letting her voluminous skirt billow around her.
“Gran! It’s beautiful!”
Gran clasped her hands to her chest. “Oh, I’m so glad you like it, dear. I know this is a very special evening for you.”
Twig heard the crunching of leaves beneath feet before she saw Daniel, a petite woman who must have been his mother, Hazel, and Leo come through the wood.
“Holy vintage goddess!” Hazel shrieked. She came running over to Twig, pawing her dress. “What is this? You look amazing, Twig!” The two girls hugged, giggling.
“Thank you! It’s all Gran.” Twig gestured toward Gran.
Introductions were made. Hazel and Leo had brought Gran cookies and coffee as a hostess gift. Daniel’s mother had baked something that smelled delicious in a covered orange pot. Gran graciously accepted the gifts, obviously touched.
“Magdalena, Hazel, Daniel, would the three of you be so kind as to help me in the kitchen for a moment?”
“Of course!” The three of them followed Gran into the house, leaving Twig and Leo alone.
“Do you want to see my studio?” Twig was nervous all over again.
“Your studio?” Leo beamed.
Twig started to lead Leo toward the small cottage when he grabbed her hand.
“Come here for a minute first.” Leo held Twig in an embrace. They stood there for a minute, hearts pounding, getting physically reacquainted after their recent time away from one another.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Twig whispered. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so happy.” As soon as the words were out, she wished she could take them back. What would he think of her? He had probably had a million moments like these. “I’m sorry,” Twig said, shaking her head shyly. “Come on.” Twig broke away and grabbed Leo’s hand to lead him toward her studio.
“Okay, I’m coming,” Leo said quietly. “But let it be known: you’re adorable, and Jesus, I don’t have words for how you look tonight.”
“It’s pretty awesome, isn’t it?” Twig twirled again. She knew she had definitely picked that word up from Leo.
Leo smiled. “Pretty awesome.”
Showing Leo her work, Twig realized how much she had accomplished in the last month. She didn’t have the exact language to describe them, but Daniel had been introducing her to different styles of art. Along with what she secretly called her vision paintings, there were abstracts, landscapes, and expressionist works. The latter were the most interesting. Women with long faces and a wonderful combination of muted colors and high contrasts.
Leo pointed to one of the women. “I like these the most. They are amazing. I mean, they are all amazing, but I really dig these.”
“Really?” Twig asked. She hadn’t shown anyone her work before. She’d been kind of secretive about it. She hadn’t even shown Daniel or Avery or Gran, who had told Twig she wouldn’t look until Twig was ready.
“You should be showing these.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean in a gallery. People would buy these for sure, Twig. I’m not a huge art expert, but my mom is an art history professor, so I know a bit.”
“Hmm.” Twig imagined herself briefly in some big city selling her artwork.
“What is going on in here?” Hazel burst through the door. “Twig!” she exclaimed. Her eyes scanned the room, taking everything in. “Oh my God! Lee, Mom has to see these.”
Daniel came to the studio, followed by his mother, Gran and Avery. The studio could barely contain the group. Twig noticed Avery looked beautiful dressed in a plain taupe shift and matching sandals, both Gran’s.
So much for secrecy
, Twig thought. She was lavished with praise and peppered with questions. Finally she held up her hands.
“This dinner is for you guys. Let’s go eat!” Twig shooed them out the door, and she and Leo exchanging a meaningful look as they walked back out into the yard.
“I really am impressed,” he whispered as he helped her into a chair at the table before he took one next to her. Avery, who was within earshot, nodded at Twig and mouthed, “So am I.”
Twig put her hands to her face to cover the hot blush in her cheeks. She loved the attention and found it almost unbearably embarrassing at the same time.
Gran brought out a bottle of champagne. She splashed a little into everyone’s glasses and then raised her own.
“To a table of bandits!”
Everyone cheered.
Conversation was easy and fluid. Gran and Hazel discussed fashion. Gran complimented Hazel on her plaid capris and gold sandals. Daniel’s mother was seventy and saucy. Twig loved her spirit. Leo did a wonderful job of engaging Avery. It was a warm evening lit by stars and candlelight, budding friendships, and a freedom Twig had never known. It was heady.
During dessert and coffee, Gran brought out speakers, and Daniel and Hazel began to dance. Gran and Magdalena joined them, swaying gracefully to the music.
Leo and Twig took a walk. They sat down at a small clearing lit by moonlight.
“What a night!” Leo said, laying back.
Twig lay down next to him and they looked up at the moon and the pinpricks of stars. He took her hand.
“Thank you for tonight.”
“You’re welcome,” she said sincerely.
“You never see the stars like this in LA,” Leo said. “Too many lights from the city.”
“I think I take them for granted sometimes,” Twig replied. “Well, sometimes I look up and they stun me, but so often I’m looking down, caught up in my thoughts.”
“I know what you mean. That’s what I love about surfing. Being out there in the ocean, it’s so vast, so much bigger than me. Sort of sweeps my thoughts away. And there’s no looking down and not noticing it, or you’re gonna get whopped.”
“I’ve never been to the ocean,” Twig said wistfully.
“Listen, that kind of gives me the perfect opening for something I want to ask you.”
“Okay,” Twig said, raising her eyebrows with curiosity.
“Well, I know this is probably impossible for you, but I have to ask.” Leo sat up on one elbow and looked down at Twig. Her heart caught in her chest. She loved his face so much. She could barely breathe anticipating his kiss. He smelled so good.
“My family is going on a surf trip to a spot near Nosara. I want you to come. I’ve asked my parents, and they are totally cool with it. They want to meet you.”
“I—”
“Before you say no, we are leaving when we come back. It would be a way for us to have some real time together before I go home. Plus, it’s a short trip—only one night.”
Twig thought about the fact that Adam was gone. If there was any time she could possibly make this work, it would be now. And even though there were a million other eyes on her at all times, she seemed to be getting away with a lot lately. But this would be different. This would be all day, overnight. Missing every meal, every class.
She looked up at Leo.
He traced her eyebrows with his fingertip, ran down the bridge of her nose, and finally put his finger to her lips.
“When?” she asked.
“A week from Friday.” He seemed to be following her thoughts. “You don’t have to answer now. You can tell me on Wednesday. If the answer is yes, we can work out the details.”
Before she could respond, he leaned down and kissed her. She cupped his head in her hands and pulled him to her.
After a while, the music from the party floated back into their awareness. They sat up, and Twig touched her nose to Leo’s.
“Yes,” she said in a strong, clear voice.
“You’ll go?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t know how she would manage it, but she was going.
She had been lied to and betrayed, unjustly and cruelly punished. She was about to enter into a marriage with a man she detested. Leo was leaving. This would be her last time with him. She was going to go.
She would deal with the repercussions when she got back.
33
“Are you sure about this, darling?”
Gran and Twig were packing a small suitcase for the trip.
“You sound like my mom.”
“I’m sure I do.”
Gran had opened up her closet to Twig. Twig was trying on a black and white twist bikini that sat low on Twig’s hips. Gran said it was pure sixties Bond girl—Domino from
Thunderball
specifically. Twig couldn’t believe how sexy she looked. She was discovering how powerful and expressive clothing could be. No wonder Gran took her wardrobe everywhere she went. Twig wanted to take a really long look at herself in the mirror, look at her stomach, the curve of her breasts, but she was a little embarrassed. Something like shame hovered at the surface, too, but she didn’t want to feel ashamed, so she fought it. She admired Gran so much. If Gran said this was acceptable, then it must be. She had to be brave. Otherwise, she might as well just go put her white dress back on and forget all of it. She wasn’t going to do that. Everything she had seen so far about the outside world, she had liked. She had to know more. This might be her only chance.
“We really need to have movie night,” Twig finally said. Twig reached for a small notebook and dashed down
Thunderball
. She was keeping a list of the movies she wanted to see one day. “And I love it,” Twig said, gesturing to the suit. “I don’t look like a tramp, do I?”
Gran frowned at her. “Hardly, the suit is perfect. But really, darling, are you sure about the trip?”
“Of course not!” Twig said. “But I’m going anyway. You know when you just have to do something crazy and break free?”