“I’ll share Muffy with her. She can visit anytime.”
Aunt Bessie gave us both big hugs when she arrived. Mike came home from work early and bounced little Mikey on his knee, keeping him distracted. Violet brought the box to Aunt Bessie in the living room. Violet and I sat on the sofa.
Aunt Bessie perched on a side chair, looking more nervous than I’d ever seen her. She looked down at the lid. “I haven’t seen this box for years.”
“You’ve seen it before?” Violet asked.
“Yes, it was Dora’s.” She stroked the lid, almost as if she touched Dora herself.
“Is Dora my mother?” I asked. I didn't have time to dilly-dally. My giant death clock was ticking down.
Aunt Bessie looked up with a sad smile. “Yes, Dora was your mother.”
I knew this already from the evidence piled in the box on her lap, yet hearing the words spoken out loud felt like a gavel coming down with a final decree. I released a small cry of dismay. Violet reached over, enclosing my hand in hers.
“How can this be, Aunt Bessie?” Violet asked. “Is she my mother too?”
“No, Violet. Your Momma is your mother.” She smiled at me again. “You both know that your Momma was a difficult woman to live with, but years ago, she did try. She loved your father something fierce, but your father was a soft man and her sharp tongue wore him down. After your momma had Violet, she became consumed with her, pushing your daddy to the side. She waited a long time to have Violet, thinking for years she’d never have children. Your father began to work more hours to help buy all the extras your momma wanted. That’s when he met Dora, who’d recently moved to Henryetta from Shreveport. Her family was from around here and she’d run off to the city for a little excitement. Dora was sweet and soft, everything your momma was not. Your daddy loved her and Dora got pregnant.” She nodded in my direction. “With you. Your daddy had to choose who he wanted to be with and he chose Dora.”
Violet squeezed my hand and I wondered if I would still be able to use it when she finished.
“Right before you were born, Rose, he left your Momma and moved in with Dora. I hate to say it, but he was the happiest I ever saw him.” She grimaced toward Violet, “No offense, Violet. He loved you, too.”
Violet nodded through her tears. I put my hand on top of hers. She turned to me, her quivering lower lip lifting into a smile. My heart broke seeing her so hurt.
“When you were born, Rose, your daddy said he finally found what he’d been looking for his whole life. He and Dora were very happy, even though they weren’t married. He had filed for a divorce, but your Momma wouldn’t have any part of it and vowed to fight him every step of the way. She made him promise to keep it a secret from everyone, so no one in Henryetta even knew for sure, although lots of people suspected.”
“Where’s Dora now? Why did Daddy go back to Momma?” I asked.
Aunt Bessie’s lips pursed together and she chose her words carefully. She looked at me, tenderness on her face. I knew the answer before she even spoke the words.
“She’s dead, darlin’. She died in a car wreck, right before the Christmas after you were born.” Aunt Bessie’s eyes teared up. “Your Momma, she was bound and determined to get your daddy back. So she went to confront Dora after she got off work. They had a terrible fight in the parking lot, and your Momma threatened Dora, said she’d see her dead before she’d let your daddy go.” Aunt Bessie shook her head. “Dora ran off the road on the way home and crashed into a tree, killed instantly. We were all so thankful you weren’t in the car. The police thought it looked like the brake lines had been cut, but honestly, the police in Henryetta have always been known to botch investigations. So in the end there was no proof that your Momma had anything to do with it, even though the police suspected she did.”
Violet and I clutched each other’s hands in stunned silence.
“Well, your daddy, he was devastated. He loved Dora with all his heart, but he had a new baby.” Aunt Bessie wiped a tear off her cheek and looked me in the eyes. “He loved you, Rose, but he was too upset to take care of you. Part of him died with Dora that day. So he brought you to Earl and me. Your Momma swooped in and convinced your daddy that she forgave him and begged him to come back home. But she couldn’t lose face with the town, so she and Violet came to live with us for several months, until enough time elapsed that people would buy Rose as her own.