Rosa stifled a yawn. She hadn't managed to get back to sleep after finally returning to her own room at half-past three. Her own memories had been dredged up, and she didn't want to risk a nightmare of her own.
She caught Cam watching her apologetically and grinned. "Don't worry about me. I shouldn't have had those extra six marshmallows. The sugar rush was unbelievable, but now, well," Rosa shrugged, her lace top catching on the strap of the shirt under it.
Cam looked unconvinced, then a genuine smile broke across her face. "Pastor Ian!"
"Camelia," replied a tall young man, with dusty blond hair and an athletic build. "And Rosa too. Good morning, ladies."
Rosa gave a polite smile and watched his eyes travel back to her sister. As always, they were filled with warmth and acceptance, unlike a few others she could see. They were, after all, the Kay orphans, notorious and marginalized by most.
It would have been by all, if not for Ian and his unwillingness to stand watching their ostracization.
Rosa waited patiently while Cam chattered like a bird, making her infatuation easily visible to the entire street. Still, she didn't mind it. If Rosa was determined to choose a man from Naco, Ian was by far her best option, even if he was ten years older than she was.
And is he your best option? Her mind asked as her eyes swept up the street, landing on another man. She shook her head and turned her back on Mark Fell, lest he notice her and try to call her over. Love was simply not in the cards for her.
"I'll see you in church tomorrow," Pastor Ian told them both, then turned back to enter the little mission center he had set up to aid newcomers crossing the border, whether it be with local or travel information, food, or a place to sleep for a few nights, while the reality sunk in.
"Did you hear what he said?" Cam said, sounding excited.
Rosa smiled apologetically. "No, sorry."
Cam rolled her eyes in an emphatic gesture. "He said that the Mayor was going to host the summer festival on the thirteenth this year."
"Ah, I see," said Rosa, laughing at her sister’s exuberance. It seemed to her that after their father's murder and their mother's disappearance, each of them had retained only specific emotional abilities.
Camelia felt everything in extremes but was always quickest to laugh and latch on, wholeheartedly, to any opportunity for merriment.
Lucia was stoic, keeping her own counsel and barely interacting with the townsfolk, other than to keep up their dad's old bookstore, run out of a camper van at the eastern lot. She had become the mother, unyielding, over-protective, and carrying everything alone.
And me? Rosa sighed. She seemed to have lost all feelings, being only able to mirror back what others gave. Over the decade, she had learned to pretend when the occasion warranted. Still, sometimes she wondered if she would ever truly feel anything again.
The sisters entered the small store, each heading off with half of the shopping list. The Saturday routine firmly established over the last twelve years. As Rosa neared the back of the store, she heard two hushed voices in the next aisle. Not really knowing why, she paused in her shopping, silently drawing close enough to make out their words.
"...I'm telling you it is the same. My Benny was there. He saw it. Right for their grand New Year's opening."
There was a tutting noise. "I wonder if Turquoise Valley can survive another scandal like that again. No one will want to go to some nutter's burial ground."
Rosa felt her muscles lock. They couldn't possibly be saying what she thought they were.
It isn't possible. Papa's killer is still in prison.
"What a silly thing to say! You know very well it can't be the same killer, even if the body was buried up to its neck on the..."
Rosa had dropped her basket, barely feeling it slip from between her numb fingers. Without looking up, she quickly retrieved it, tossed in as many tinned foods as she could, and bolted for the front.
On the way, she snagged Cam, who, as always, had gotten distracted by the magazine rack. Usually, it was an annoyance because it meant Rosa ended up having to wait while Cam quickly finished her half of the list. Today it was a blessing because it meant that she was right by the cashier's station, easy to take in hand.
Cam opened her mouth as Rosa shunted her past the till and threw her the backpacks they used for shopping bags. Rosa caught her sister's eyes and watched the sweet glow Pastor Ian had inspired go out of them. Cam ducked her head and began packing, still casting furtive glances around the store from under her lashes.
Rose knew the exact moment she had spotted the two women. A glance of her own was enough to tell Rosa that they had followed and were now gossiping behind their hands, rehashing a past and summoning old ghosts.
"Let's go," she said, pulling on the heaviest pack and pushing the other at Cam.
As they left the store, Rosa collided hard with someone, her eyes blinded momentarily by the light.
"I am sorry, Mayor Goodwin," she said, realizing who it was.
The Mayor waved her apology away without looking up. "Not to worry, not to worry," he said good-naturedly, then stifled a huge yawn.
Rosa shook her head, spotting the dark circles
