Part IV: Spin – Special Delivery #6 (Chapter 77)

The next Sunday after Mass, Nana and Pappa took me to the Biltmore for dinner.

I had piled my plate full of barbecue ribs; as I chewed on a bone, hot sauce burned around my mouth.

They had chosen this time to tell me their version of the news.

Nana took my hand. “Sam?”

I looked up.

Both my grandparents, pale and drawn, glanced at each other, then at me.

“Sam, your mother’s married again,” Pappa said. “Your new stepfather’s name is Johnny Lawrence. He sells cars.”

“And there’s a baby on the way,” Nana added.

I continued chewing on my rib. “Um.”

“Aren’t you happy?” Nana asked.

I tapped the end of the bone on my fingertips. “I dunno.”

“Well, we’re a little surprised, too. We’re going out in April,” Nana said. “The baby’s due then.”

My heart started to race.

I don’t want to go to California! What if the baby’s born dead?

What if Mother is drinking?

And who is Johnny Lawrence, anyway?

“I’ve got school,” I said, hoping that I didn’t sound too enthusiastic about staying in school.

“Oh, you can’t go,” Nana said. “You’ll be staying with Aunt Gwen. Just me and Pappa are going.”

“Um.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll send you pictures. Would you like that?”

“I guess.”

“Well, it’s settled, then.” Nana sliced a piece of ham garnished with pineapple slices and stuck it into her mouth.

I wanted to believe Nana and Pappa because I knew they, too, wanted to believe what they were telling me. I wanted them to believe I had never read the Special Delivery letter, although I suspected they knew how I opened and taped it back together.

I saw it in their eyes.

I wanted to forget about the Special Delivery letter, to forget about what I already knew through false pretenses.

I chose to believe their new story.

My mother was now Mrs. Johnny Lawrence, baby due in April, and that was that.