The Family (27 page)

While Leo rinsed his board and took a shower on their patio, Twig sat on the bed, luxuriating in this new feeling of freedom.

She had never experienced this kind of freedom before. Even her forays into the woods to do art or her later experiences at Gran’s were rushed and cloaked in a sense of danger. Being here with Leo’s family, she once again wondered what kind of world she’d been living in. How had she stood it for so long? How had she believed she was happy?

Every time she thought about home, a sharp pang, quick and black, would clench her stomach. If someone found out she wasn’t there, what would they do to Avery? Taking this risk was worth whatever punishment she herself incurred, but she had put her mother at great risk. Twig pushed her thoughts away. She wouldn’t be away that long. She’d be back there tomorrow. She was determined not to let the darkness of home ruin her one opportunity for joy before she entered into the prison of being Adam’s wife.

Twig went to shower while Leo was outside, following Hazel’s lead and rinsing her bathing suit before hanging it up to dry. Dipping back into her suitcase, she found a pair of cutoff jeans that she quickly fell in love with and a thin long-sleeve T-shirt.

Leo was sleeping on the bed when she came out of the bathroom. She quietly propped herself on pillows next to him and picked up Hazel’s novel. Before she opened it, she looked at Leo. He looked sweet when he was sleeping, masculine but peaceful. He must have felt her staring. His eyes, heavy with sleep, opened for a moment.

“You okay?” he asked her.

“Absolutely. You sleep.”

“Do you want to watch a movie or something? On my computer?” He kissed her shoulder.

“Um, that would be dope,” she said, knitting her eyebrows and wrinkling her nose, waiting for his response.

“Really?” he said, waking up in surprise.

“Really.” She shook her head.

Leo popped out of bed. “Oh my God! Okay.” He unzipped a bag and produced something silver and metal and sleek, the size of a piece of paper. Twig marveled at it, not knowing what to expect.

“Is that your computer?” Twig asked as he plopped on the bed next to her and popped open what looked to Twig like a metal envelope.

“Sweet, right? I got it for graduation.”

“Okay, this is a huge responsibility. I wish Haze was awake; we need consultation.” Twig was thankful Hazel was sleeping. She would have been embarrassed for Hazel to know the extent of her ignorance.

“Hmm,” Leo hummed. “Interesting. Not too violent. Kind of lame and kind of awesome…could be just the thing.”

“What is it?” Twig asked, curious.

“It’s a movie called
Dirty Dancing.”

Twig laughed.

“We could pick something else.”

“No, no. I have no idea. It’s probably perfect. The name just made me laugh.”

“We’ll watch the first ten minutes, and if you don’t like it, we’ll watch something else. That’s what my family does if we can’t decide on a movie. Oh! That reminds me—we need to get ready for lip sync night.”

“What’s that?” Twig asked.

“You’ll see! A little Cohen family tradition that will take place tonight after dinner. Maybe we should take a nap…you think you’ll be able to make it through all of this without some sleep?” Twig laughed out loud in response. He had no idea what her daily life was like.

“I think I can make it,” she smiled and put her arm through his.

Leo sat behind Twig and she leaned into him as the movie started. He put his chin on her shoulder. Twig could both feel their desire for one another buzzing between them like a current. She was torn between wanting to watch her first movie or turn around and kiss him.

But what a distraction the movie provided.

The story, the visuals, the music, the dancing, and the characters. Things she could relate to and things she had never even imagined. She felt like she had been cut open, the experience affected her so much. She had never felt such a whirl of disparate emotions in such a short period of time.

She had to hold herself still through half the scenes. She had never felt so much arousal. It was like being on fire. The way the characters danced. The way they made love. She worried for a minute Leo could see inside her thoughts. She was glad he was behind her and couldn’t see the flush spreading over her face. Was he experiencing the same sorts of feelings or was she just naïve? She was inspired, excited, and a little frightened by the movie all at the same time. It was a much more raw depiction of sex and sexuality than she had learned about in her Verdant Green classes. She couldn’t help but wonder if Leo was used to women like the ones in the movie. Was it okay that she liked the feelings the movie inspired—liked them and was completely afraid of them, and maybe a little ashamed of them too?

“Hey,” Leo whispered. “If this is too intense, we can stop it. Go walk on the beach for a bit.” Twig turned to him. His eyebrows were raised in question. “Watching it through your eyes, I can see it might be a little overwhelming.”

“Thank you,” she whispered back. “But I’m okay.”

When the credits rolled, Twig took a deep breath. What a powerful experience.

“I’ve never experienced anything like that.” She laughed nervously. “I can’t wait to see another one!”

“So, you liked it?” Leo asked quietly, enjoying her wonder.

“I did. I mean, it kind of freaked me out, too, but I feel transported,” Twig said thoughtfully. “A little shaken, but mainly just transported.”

“Are you tired now?” Leo asked sweetly.

“I am, actually.”

“Rest for a few minutes. I’m going to start getting things ready for tonight.”

* * *

Too excited to sleep, Twig read out on the patio while Leo got things ready for Cohen Lip Sync Night. She left him inside playing around with his iPod and his computer. Apparently everyone had “submitted” the song they would be performing before they’d even left for Nosara. The whole idea completely terrified Twig, but she thought she might get away with being an innocent bystander.

“Song for tonight, babe?” Leo called from the room.

“No, no, I’ll just watch,” she called back, hoping he would let it go at that.

“Not gonna happen. Song?”

“Would you do a duet with me? Maybe one of the songs from the movie? Is that too corny?”

“It’s mad corny, but that’s what Cohen Lip Synch Night is all about! We can do ‘Love is Strange.’”

“Can you play it so I can memorize the lyrics before tonight? I’ve never done anything like this before. I might be awful,” Twig confessed. “I’m sure I’ll be awful!” she added, glad he couldn’t see her face and tell just how anxious she was.

“You may surprise yourself.”

34

“That’s a woman!” Hazel screamed. They had gathered back in Jeff’s and Alicia’s room after dinner.

Alicia and Jeff were belting out “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” with everything they had. They serenaded one another on the patio outside of the room, which had been transformed into a small stage. Hazel, Leo, and Twig were sitting on pillows, laughing and clapping with joy.

Twig had chills all over her body watching the couple look into each other’s eyes and sing the love song. Alicia moved her body in her slow and powerful way. Jeff was transformed for the number, his normal effervescence channeled into a silky smoothness.

Hazel went next. She swayed in the candlelight performing a number by Erykah Badu called “Apple Tree.” It was perfect, so Hazel.

As she sang, Hazel’s natural rhythm flowed through her. Her audience swayed along with her. Twig was captivated by Hazel’s innate power and sensuality. It was obvious that she was used to performing. She controlled the space.

When she finished, Leo put his hand to his heart and said nobly, “I am humbled, sister.”

“Of course you are,” Hazel said seriously and then broke into a big laugh.

“I can
not
follow that!” Twig said, pretending to run back into the room.

“Go get her, Lee!” Jeff said teasingly. “I have a sneaking suspicion there’s not much that girl can’t do.”

Leo cued up the music before Twig had time to think. Hazel gave her a loving push toward the stage.

The music started and Twig faltered.

She froze.

“If at first you don’t succeed, try try again!” Jeff shouted through cupped hands.

“Don’t think, just do!” Leo smiled.

“And take a sip of this.” Jeff gave Twig a sip of his beer.

Leo started the song again. Twig jumped into the role this time, remembering Baby from
Dirty Dancing
and her journey from reticence to confidence.

How many chances would Twig have to do something like this?

She let go. The chemistry between Leo and her took over completely.

“They’re having a moment!” Hazel screamed. Everyone was laughing and clapping.

Leo fell at Twig’s feet when the song ended, pretending to worship her. Alicia, Jeff, and Hazel stood up and cheered. As they all fell in a heap of laughter and happiness, Twig looked at the Cohens.

This was the family she wanted.

35

When they got back to their rooms, Hazel held up a hand, saying, “I don’t even want to hear it. I’m sleeping in there. You don’t have to thank me, just have mercy and keep it down so a woman can get her rest.”

“’Night, Haze,” Leo replied.

“’Night, bro. Goodnight, Twig.”

“Goodnight, Hazel,” Twig said, embracing her.

“What’s all this?” Hazel said, sounding like Alicia and patting Twig on the back as she returned the hug.

“Thanks, Hazel, for today. It was a really special day for me.”

“Well, there’s more fun to be had tomorrow, so get some sleep,” Hazel said in a maternal tone.

When Hazel disappeared into her room and closed the door, Leo looked at Twig.

“Are you okay with this? If not, I can totally go sleep in there.”

Twig went to him and put her arms around his neck, cupping his head in her long fingers.

“Of course I am,” she whispered. She didn’t know what would happen tonight, but she knew whatever it was, she wanted it to happen with Leo first, not Adam.

They began to kiss, and Leo lost his balance, falling back on the bed and taking Twig with him. They laughed and then
shhh
’d one another, which made them laugh harder for a moment.

Leo pressed his lips against hers, slowly, unrushed. Their lips locked, and they both gasped almost noiselessly with desire and happiness.

Twig took Leo’s earlobe in her teeth gently and then whispered in his ear, something she had learned in her Verdant Green class. Leo moaned and then took a deep breath. He rolled on top of her and looked down at her.

She might not be able to help what happened with Adam in the future, but she could have what she wanted now. She would have to endure Adam for the rest of her life.

Twig moved her hips beneath Leo and smiled teasingly.

Leo squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.

“What’s wrong?” Twig asked.

“Trust me, I want you more than anything. I just don’t want to rush it.”

“Oh, okay,” Twig said, feeling hurt and suddenly embarrassed for being so forward. She started to roll out from under him. She was mortified. What had she been thinking? Had she misjudged everything? She didn’t know how anything worked.

“Wait.” Leo pushed her back down playfully.

“I feel stupid,” she said quietly.

“Please. Please don’t. It’s because of what we have that I want to take it slow. No need to skip ahead. Right?”

Twig didn’t answer. She wanted to say she was worried she’d never see him again after this trip, that there wasn’t time to take it slow, but that would sound so intense.

He seemed to read her thoughts.

“I’m going to come back.”

“What do you mean?”

Leo rolled off her and lay next to her. They turned to face one another.

“I’m going to come back during spring break. I’ve already planned it out in my head. That’s not that much time. Four months, tops.”

Twig was silent, thinking it through. She would be married by then.

“You know what, I was going to wait until tomorrow, but let’s do it now.” Leo popped out of bed and grabbed his laptop from the desk. Twig sat up and watched him, perplexed.

Leo came back to the bed and sat next to her.

“Do what?”

“I want to make you an email account,” Leo said, starting to type while she looked over his shoulder.

A feeling of sadness caught Twig. “But I…”

Leo held up his hand. “I know, I know, you can’t use it. But I just need to do this in case you are ever able to get to a computer. Maybe when you are in town on your errand run, you can get to an Internet café. I just would never forgive myself if I didn’t do this.”

“Okay,” she said quietly. “Of course.” Maybe Gran had a computer.

“Behold, Google. Your world will never be the same.”

Leo showed Twig how a search engine worked. He asked her to name any topic and showed her the world of information the computer beamed back. She chose Audrey Hepburn and loved looking at the images that came up. An idea like a flashbulb popped into her brain. She could do a search for the names Avery and Olivia and the words “missing persons” But what would Leo think? He didn’t know about any of that. Like he said, maybe she could find an Internet café when she got back. Her desire to preserve the joy of the trip overrode her curiosity for the moment.

“Now I’m going to set up your account. I’ll use all of my info and just give you the name and password.”

Twig was touched and deeply relieved that he seemed so intent on finding a way for them to communicate when he went home. The thought of being without him after tomorrow was like a knife in her gut.

“Did we make a mistake?” she asked suddenly. “Getting involved?”

“What?” Leo turned to her, hearing the seriousness in her tone. He stopped typing for a moment and set the laptop aside. He took her in his arms. “No, no.”

“Well, you’re leaving tomorrow, and—”

“Twig,” Leo whispered, stroking her hair.

“But you’re going to be just starting college. I don’t want to take you away from that. I want you to be happy there.”