Revived Spirits (19 page)

“Why, thank you. I try,” Dave says, blushing a little.

I think about my moments with my dad. I’ll tell Mom and Granny about them sometime, but I want to keep them for myself a little while longer. I look at Dave, and even though he’s not my dad, I see one thing he has in common with him: the kindness in his eyes. “He is a keeper,” I say, and Mom looks surprised and pleased.

There’s something else I haven’t told anybody else yet, though Granny and Mom may have already sensed it. I “came into my womanhood” this morning, as Granny would say. And so now I know for sure that Miss Minnie’s magic did what it was supposed to do.

I look around the table at Mom and Granny and the
Sos
and Dave, talking and laughing and eating pizza. Abigail’s with me, and while Dad’s not here in body, I know he is in spirit. I photograph this moment in my mind so I can pull it up whenever I want, so that no matter how things change or where we go, this picture of us, together and happy, will be mine to keep.