Three Converts

Part 59

Once she purged her horror story, glimpses of the Sophie I knew started to return. She and Misty were two peas in a pod. They poured over fashion magazines that had been contraband to Sophie not two days ago. Misty gifted her some nail polish. After that there was no turning back for Soph. She painted her nails a different color every day, and convinced me to do mine as well. "I mean, how sinful can this possibly be?" she giggled. I knew Soph would have to work her way through her faith, the same way I was, separating what she really believed from what the commune told her to believe. But I wasn't about to bring that up until her heart had time to heal.

In true Sophie fashion, she cleaned and cared for us, promising to get a job and chip in just as soon as we'd let her. She became the honorary little sister to my friends and they loved her as much as I did. When I came home from the donut shop or the medical center, she waited for me at the door just like she used to wait at the top of the path. Except now I always had happier news to report rather than failure after failure.

One day after a successful day at the medical center (there were not one, but two births! Both boys.) I came home to everyone sitting in the living room. It was pretty rare for all of us to be home at once. Sophie was laughing, which was always the first thing I looked for. Her smiles didn't come as quick and easy as they once had. I treasured every one of them. Misty was telling a story about a customer who sent their food back three times, was rude to the hostess, and spilled their drink. "Normally, I keep a close eye on the cook in these situations, but I just let him be. And did he wash his hands after he went to the bathroom before he made their meal for the third time? I don't know! It's just so hard to say." Her palms were up innocently by her shoulders. I groaned and Soph giggled.

"Sounds like he had it coming," Sophie ventured.

"Who had what coming?" Gordo came in through the garage door. We all smiled to see him- it had been a while. He was an elusive guy. Sophie scooted closer to me on the floor. I linked my arm in hers. "Gordo, I'd like you to meet my sister, Sophie. Sophie, this is Griffin's brother Gordo." Soph put a hand on her bare head.

"Hi," she whispered to the ground. Despite our efforts to convince her she was rocking the bald look, Sophie hadn't left the house since she arrived, except for our hike when she told me about Franklin. She blamed her baldness, but I knew she was world-weary. I couldn't blame her one bit.

Gordo glanced at me with a sad smile. "Pleased to meet you Sophie." I'd never heard Gordo be so formal. I appreciated his caution with my fragile sister. Someday he and Rocco and Griffin, everyone who didn't know her before, would get to know my real sister. Not the girl who showed up on our doorstep. Not even the girl who giggled shyly at Misty's stories, but my sister who laughed without abandon, who swatted my arm when I teased her, who wasn't fearful of strangers, but engaged them joyfully because she truly loved every person.

Gordo sat on the floor with us, beside Sophie, but a safe distance. He made Misty repeat her story, then looked at Sophie. "And you said he had it coming!?" Amusement outlined his words. She nodded at the ground that was apparently super fascinating. Gordo laughed. "You're going to fit in just fine around here, Sophie!" Finally, she looked at him with a little smile. In her previous life, Soph could have and would have recruited Gordo to live at the commune. She could convert anybody to anything. Now she was barely able to look him in the eye. Gordo was looking at her so kindly I found I was holding my heart.

"I'm having a party here tonight," Gordo announced. And just like that I wanted to kill him. Soph wasn't ready for a party. "You're all invited!"

"Good idea!" Misty agreed.

"Sounds fun," Rocco chimed in. What was wrong with everyone? Even Griffin was nodding his head agreeably. Fine. I'd just take Sophie out for the night.

"Oo, what's the occasion?" My head whipped over to my sister. She was clenching her hands, but into fists. She looked... excited?

"Sophie, I just don't think we need an excuse for a party except that we love life."

"Soph, we can do something else, if you want. I'm not sure I'm up for a party," I gave my sister the out she surely wanted.

"Lucy! Don't be such a bump on a log! It'll be fun!" I searched her face. She really did seem into the idea of a party.

I shrugged. "Okay, if you're in, I'm in. What do we need to do, Gordo?"

He clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "Not a thing, Luce! I'll take care of everything."

For the first time Griffin looked a little worried. "Uh, just something small, right G?"

"Yeah, yeah. Small." Gordo raised an eyebrow andI wondered what we'd gotten ourselves into.