He glanced at me with a mischievous grin, put his phone away, and leaned over like he was going to whisper something in my ear when Dad looked up from his conversation with Sara. “Hey, no whispering, if you got something to say we all want to hear it!”
Drew sighed and spared a glance in my dad’s direction before he brought his gaze back to mine.
“Would you do me the honor of taking a starlight stroll with me down by the river after dinner, Eden?”
I glanced at Dad for permission. This was the first real test since he’d reluctantly given his blessing about me seeing Drew. Granting me this request would mean that he’d have to trust me and Drew alone, with no chaperone, after dark when the shadows were long, and the opportunities to get away with making out were greater. Sightseeing during the day was one thing, but taking a romantic evening stroll was another thing entirely. I could tell he really wanted to say no, but Sara leaned in and caught his eye, nodding her head ever so slightly.
Dad chuckled, saying, “Okay, okay, no need to lay on the formality so thick. You two have twenty minutes, from the time we pay the bill until you have to be back in your respective rooms.”
Dad looked to Sara for affirmation. She smiled and nodded in return.
Chapter Thirteen
Meeting at Night
Gumbo was way more filling than I thought it would be, and not completely disgusting. The previous events of the day and the walk with Drew by the river left me drained. By the time I made it back to the room, I was ready to crash. I fell into the bed without so much as changing into my pajamas. Within a few seconds of my head hitting the pillow, I felt the fatigue pull me under. Before I knew it, I was in a world, only my mind could create.
I was sitting in my room at home—only it wasn’t my room. I tried looking around and was surprised when I was able to, which told me this was a dream, not a memory, but I didn’t think it was mine. The walls wore a wallpaper of posters from bands I didn’t know. At least I thought they were bands. Nsync—okay, that was a weird way to spell that, but I had to admit the guys were hot. Another poster of three girls caught my eye, so I scurried to the opposite side of the room to get a closer look.
“Oh my Gawd,” I said as I peered closer at the girls on the poster. The one in the center was Beyoncé; I was almost certain. I hadn’t known she was part of a girl band, but that wasn’t what had shocked me. The girl on the left looked just like Echo only with short hair. When I took a closer look, it was obvious that this woman was easily in her twenties. Even though this girl was full-grown and not a teenager, the likeness was creepy. The bottom of the poster read Destiny’s Child. Glancing around the room, I read the other bands' names, and the only ones I recognized were Creed, one of my favorites, and the Black Eyed Peas, Jennifer’s.
“This is Echo’s dream,” I said out loud and then glanced down at my hands, confirming my assumption. They weren’t hers, they were mine. I walked over to the dresser with its big mirror, and my reflection stared back at me. If this wasn’t Echo’s dream, then it had to be mine, which made no sense. I glanced again at the poster of Destiny’s Child, at Beyoncé’s smiling face, and she looked younger than she’d ever been since I’d known who she was. I glanced back at the mirror, and there in its reflection on the dresser’s top, was a folded piece of notebook paper. I tried to pick it up, but my hand passed right through it. I tried again, baffled, but the same thing happened. The bathroom door across the hall creaked open, and I swung my gaze in that direction. Echo came sauntering through the bedroom door wrapped up in a fluffy yellow robe that bulged at her mid-section. Walking right through me, she leaned over and examined her smooth, flawless mahogany face in the mirror, then looked down at the piece of folded paper and sighed an agitated sound.
“I don’t care what he says, how many colorful compliments he showers on me this time! If he can’t choose between me,” Echo paused and glanced wistfully at her belly as she sat on the bed, “between us, my beautiful little Eden, and his family, then we are done! It’s not my fault that they will have a problem with me. I understood before, but now—I am about to have our baby! That has to mean something!” Her hand trembled as she unfolded the note and I positioned myself behind her so that I could also read it.
Saturday – July 28, 2001
My Dearest Echora,
Please meet me tomorrow night at 10:30 in Porter’s field. I have something I need to ask you, and depending on how you answer, something to give to you as well. I do love you. I hope you know that. I want nothing but the best for our daughter and us. Please come, I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Eternally yours,
Daniel
I watched as a single tear hit the paper. Some of the ink words became unreadable as they bloomed and spread into a bluish-purple splotch. Slowly, Echo folded the paper and rose from the bed, walking to the closet. She stood there for a moment, note still in hand, and then bent until she was on her knees. I walked through the mirrored closet door to see what she was doing. Pulling back the pink carpet in the left corner, she revealed
