The Family (26 page)

“All too well,” Gran murmured, deciding between a pair of oversized Aviator sunglasses and big black Jackie O’s. In the end she wrapped them both in a white silk scarf and placed them carefully in a soft apple-green leather purse that Twig would take with her.

Gran sighed. “I remember what it’s like to be seventeen. You don’t have to explain. Sometimes you feel as if you would go to the ends of the earth.”

Twig blushed at Gran’s insight. How far would she go for Leo?

“She said I didn’t have to come back,” Twig said.

“Who did?”

“My mom. She said if I could get away, and stay away, that I should.”

“And what do you think?”

“I told her I would never leave her here.”

“She is a grown woman; she can take care of herself.”

“That’s exactly what she said, but that’s not true. She’s defenseless against Adam. We all are.”

And it was more than just that. Yes, she was worried about her mother. But Twig couldn’t wrap her head around just
leaving
. She would be totally dependent on Leo and his family, and totally ignorant of life in the outside world. She couldn’t ask his family to be responsible for her.

“I see,” Gran said sadly. “Well, it seems decisions have been made,” she cleared her throat. “For now, anyway. Daniel will be here soon.” Gran gave her a final once over. “Wear the scarf in your hair, darling.” Twig got the impression that Gran was forcing herself to sound more casual than she felt.

Twig and Leo had worked out the details for the trip on their weekly meet. It had been brief because Twig had wanted to finish her errands and get back to Thomas early. She hadn’t wanted to blow it and risk getting caught so close to the trip. She’d also known that she’d be with Leo on Saturday. An entire twenty-four hours together.

Daniel would drive her to the Cohen’s hotel.

“I will take care of you,” he had promised. Twig knew he would, while she was with him. While he could. It was later, after the trip, that scared her. But for now, she felt safe inside the cocoon of feelings that had grown between them. It felt as if nothing could touch her.

Avery would have to spend the night alone. She would be at risk while Twig was gone. That was the one part of the plan Twig didn’t like. Avery tried to be a sport by saying it was her dream night—the place all to herself—but Twig could tell she was nervous.

“One more thing before Daniel arrives.” Gran put a thin gold chain around Twig’s neck. Hanging on the chain was a delicate “T” that dangled between Twig’s collarbones.

“It’s beautiful. But where…” Twig trailed off. “I don’t know your first name, Gran. I feel sort of ashamed.”

“Don’t be. I never said it. It’s Clare.”

“Clare,” Twig said, gently holding the charm between her thumb and forefinger. “So, this?”

“That, my dear, is a gift.”

“It’s too much,” Twig said softly.

“One thing I have learned in all of my travels, darling, is that when someone offers you a gift, you accept it.”

Twig smiled up at her. “I love it. I won’t take it off.”

When Daniel arrived, Twig and Gran were waiting in the kitchen. Twig’s white dress, plain white bra, underwear, and hiking boots were folded on a chair in Gran’s bedroom. Twig was transformed in tight jeans, an olive green button-down shirt in heavy fabric that was cinched at the waist with a thick black leather belt, and espadrilles. Around her neck, doubled up and hanging below her golden “T” were some of Gran’s glittering black beads. The clothes felt heavy and so good in contrast to the wispiness of her dress.

Gran gave Twig a piece of paper with a telephone number on it and a wallet that was filled with money.

“If you need anything, even just to talk, call me. If you need us to come get you, call me.”

“And I’ll be at The Harmony Hotel in Nosara.” Twig had a sudden fear. What if that’s where Adam was? Impossible. She was just being paranoid. Extra paranoid.

“Yes, got it.” The two women embraced.

“I’m nervous!” Twig giggled. “Let’s go before I loose my nerve.”

* * *

When Daniel walked Twig into the hotel lobby, Leo was sitting on a bench, his feet tapping with excitement. He rushed to them when he saw them, embracing Twig and then shaking Daniel’s hand. Twig looked around the lobby. Glimmering tiles, indoor waterfalls, and an assaulting smell of ammonia. Twig would have wanted to stop and examine everything, but the smell made her head and throat hurt.

“Thanks so much for getting her here safe, man. It’s good to see you. How’s your mother, Daniel?”

“She’s good, thank you, Leo. See you back here tomorrow at two?”

“Yes. On the nose.”

“Thank you, Daniel. I don’t know how to repay you,” Twig said.

“It’s my pleasure. Have fun. I’ll be here tomorrow.”

When Daniel left, Leo looked down at Twig, his expression serious.

“Are you okay with this?”

“Yes,” she reassured him.

“You’re sure? If at any time you become unsure, you’ll tell me?”

“I promise.”

Leo didn’t know that their meeting at the hospital was the first time Twig had been off the compound. She thought it would freak him out if she told him. He was already being so sweet and protective.

“Okay! Let’s do this! My mom and dad and Hazel went to town for some breakfast. We’ll go get them. Are you hungry?” Twig shook her head no as they walked out into the hotel’s small parking lot.

Leo clicked a small black box and big, silver car that said
Range Rover
on the back, let out a beeping sound. The door locks clicked open. Twig frowned.

“What’s wrong?” Leo asked.

“There’s just so much I don’t know about.”

“It’s okay. You’re like my little time traveler.”

“Don’t you think your parents are going to think I’m odd or out of place?”

“Nah. They are really open-minded people, but I also gave them a little heads up on the whole
kibbutz
situation.”

“Did you call it that?”

“No, I didn’t. I hope that’s all right. I sort of discussed it with them the way you and I discussed it.”

“I think that’s better, actually.”

“Okay, good. You are going to love them, and I know they are going to love you.”

Twig sat beside Leo as he started the car.

“I’m good. I’m okay,” she said, more to herself than to Leo. She opened the window and let the breeze blow on her face, leaning back and gently taking Leo’s hand. He squeezed hers in response.

Leo’s mother was beautiful. She had the same cocoa amber skin as Leo and Hazel—perfect skin that looked as if it had been mixed with cream and poured onto her body. She had a wide friendly face and a sprinkling of freckles across her pretty nose. Her name was Alicia, and she taught art history at the University of Southern California. She took both of Twig’s hands in hers and told her that it was lovely to meet her, finally, and that she’d heard so much about her. Leo stood by watching with pride as the two women interacted for the first time. Twig was instantly put at ease by Alicia’s quiet warmth.

Jeff, Leo’s father, was powder-pale with a big shock of red hair and watery blue eyes. He was a force, gregarious and kind.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Jeff.” Twig extended her hand.

“I would prefer if you would call me Mr. Cohen.”

Twig reddened for a moment at her mistake.

A big grin, reminding Twig instantly of Leo, spread across Jeff’s face. “I’m just kidding you, and if it’s okay, we like to hug around here.”

Twig laughed with relief as she fell into Jeff’s bear-like embrace.

“Dad, you’re awful.” Hazel laughed as she chastised her father. It was obvious she adored him.

They piled into the Range Rover with Leo at the wheel and Twig shyly taking the front seat at everyone’s insistence.

A game called Covers instantly ensued. The Cohens were all about music. Leo and Hazel had loaded up their iPods for the game. Leo would play a song and then play its cover. Everyone voted on which one was the best. Twig liked the game because it didn’t matter that she’d never heard most of the songs. Jeff and Alicia hadn’t heard half the covers Leo and Hazel had discovered. The first song was “Goodbye Girl” by Squeeze, and then a cover by a band called The Shins. Twig voted for The Shins because their version was more lighthearted. The original version was haunting. Both were good, but she was on the first vacation of her life, and so she chose jaunty over haunting.

Halfway through the trip, they stopped for gas, and Jeff took the wheel, Alicia by his side.

“No cuddling, you two,” Hazel warned Twig and Leo as they piled back into the car. Again, Twig’s cheeks reddened with embarrassment. Hazel took her hand. “Not that I don’t understand, I have many a man at home—”

“Now that’s enough, Hazel,” Alicia scolded from the front seat.

“I’m just saying. I don’t want Twig to think I’m some kind of prude.”

“She has to beat them off with a stick back home,” Jeff called from the front seat.

“Oh, I’m sure you do,” Twig said sincerely. Hazel was ridiculously, powerfully beautiful. Her looks were one thing, but they were coupled with her grace and confidence.

“That’s right. Dad. Did you remember to pack my stick?”

“I did, darling,” Jeff answered without missing a beat.

* * *

“We’re here!” boomed Jeff.

Twig startled awake. She had fallen asleep against Leo’s shoulder. He was looking down at her.

“Hi there.”

“Hi,” she said sleepily.

“You are very cute when you’re sleeping,” Leo whispered.

Twig squeezed his hand in response, not wanting to annoy Hazel.

“I heard that, Romeo. But this place is so awesome that I don’t even care,” Hazel said, sitting up to look out her window as Jeff pulled into the round driveway of the hotel.

The rooms were simple with red terracotta tiles, big beds covered with white comforters, and white linen curtains on the windows. Leo, Hazel and Twig had two rooms connected by a door and a large shared patio that had a hammock and an outdoor shower.

One of the rooms had two twin beds and the other a queen bed. Twig wondered where she would sleep, and assumed it would be on one of the twins with Hazel. On the one hand, she wanted to sleep in the same bed as Leo. The thought made her dizzy with longing. But along with her desire came a swarm of anxious butterflies in her stomach. What would he expect of her? But when she thought of being in his arms all night, she wanted nothing more, no matter how terrifying it seemed. She thought of her Verdant Green classes. She wanted that with Leo, not Adam.

“I’m going to change, and then let’s get lunch and hit the beach. Sound good?” Hazel asked, disappearing into the bathroom and shaking Twig from her thoughts.

Twig, feeling slightly embarrassed about what she had just been thinking, pulled Leo out onto the patio.

“Okay, quick check-in.”

“Sure. Talk to me.”

“I’m a little overwhelmed,” Twig said breathlessly. Leo put his hands on her shoulders. “Can we have a firsts list? For example, that was my first road trip, this is my first stay at a hotel, and here’s a big one: this will be my first time seeing the ocean. Maybe we can have a code word so I don’t feel like a misfit every time.”

“Of course. Firstly, I am honored to be able to experience these things with you. But one question: do you know how to swim?”

“Yes!” Twig was happy to report. They swam in the river at home. Not in bikinis, but yes, she knew how to swim. At home they wore one-piece bathing suits that had swim skirts attached to cover their upper thighs. Twig shuddered at the thought of Leo and Hazel seeing her in one.

“Okay, we are set. What should our code word be?” Leo asked.

“Hmm…”

“I know: dope.”

“Dope?” Twig repeated, raising her eyebrows.

“Yeah. Every time it’s a first, you just say, ‘That sounds dope.’”

Twig put her hand to her mouth to cover her laugh.

“What?” Leo said, putting his hand to his heart feigning hurt.

“I’ve never heard that before …”

“Another first!” Leo turned her back toward the room and patted her on the butt. “Now go get in your bathing suit. I’m starving.”

Twig hopped at the feeling of Leo’s hand on her butt and laughed, running away toward her suitcase.

The restaurant sat right on the beach. Lunch was phenomenal: tacos with black beans served on plantain leaves and covered with lime juice. The Cohens all ate white fish tacos that even tempted Twig for a moment. But she could barely eat, she was so taken with the expanse of glittering blue ocean in front of her. She sipped at her lime soda and felt herself begin to relax in a way she had never experienced. She had never seen anything as beautiful and as exciting as the ocean. She had an underlying anxiety about Avery by herself back at the compound, but she did her best to ignore it.

After plying Leo, Hazel, and Twig with sunscreen and warnings to watch one another, Alicia and Jeff headed to their room to take a nap. The plan was to meet at seven for dinner. Seven! Twig wondered what they would do between now and then. So much time to do whatever they wanted.

Leo and Hazel spent some time discussing the best way to introduce Twig to the ocean. They decided to go with the way they were taught when they were children.

With Leo on one side of Twig and Hazel on the other, they each held one of her hands, and the trio ran screaming toward the waves. A strong swimmer to begin with, Twig was a natural. Before long, they swam out past the break and floated beneath the sun, letting the gentle current roll beneath their bodies. Twig was mesmerized by the breadth of green water. She lay on her back, letting her hair spread out like sunrays around her.

“Do you two mind if I go out for a bit?”

Twig looked at Leo questioningly.

“He means surfing,” Hazel said. “Go ahead. Twig, you want to get some sun with me, read, and just chill on the beach?”

Nothing sounded better.

* * *

When Leo and Twig got back to the room, Hazel was curled up on one of the twin beds, fast asleep. Leo gently shut the door and put his fingers to his lips to signal for Twig to be quiet and not wake her.