The Reckless Oath We Made - Bryn Greenwood Page 0,157

your roommate was driving the getaway car that night.”

“That isn’t the same,” I said.

“Cheryl and David, on that side, next to Bernice. And Elana, on this end with your mom,” the photographer said.

Once Elana got her chair situated, it was just a matter of fitting everyone else in. Bill and Carlees in back, because they were the tallest. Janae and her girlfriend filling in between Bill and my niece and her husband.

“Trang, let’s put you—”

“Will you get Gentry?” I said to Trang, because I didn’t want to end up shouting to get his attention. I’d wanted everyone dressed up for the pictures, but none of Gentry’s dress shirts fit him anymore. Too tight in the arms and shoulders. He was wearing what he liked best: a black T-shirt.

Trang went to talk to Gentry, and then the two of them took up their places behind Elana. The rest of the party quieted down like civilized folks to let the pictures be taken.

Zhorzha stayed at the kitchen counter, sitting on a bar stool with her hands on her knees, keeping her skirt pressed down. Obviously she was also uncomfortable with how short her dress was.

“All right, everyone look at me,” the photographer said. Then, like he was playing the crowd for laughs: “I’m talking to you, Charlene.”

Bernice squeezed my hand, so I looked, and the photographer snapped pictures.

I was still annoyed that Zhorzha had come to the party, but I felt a little bad. It couldn’t be any fun for her, surrounded by strangers, and worse than strangers: people who knew all about her. It wasn’t as though I’d held my tongue when it came to my opinion of Zhorzha. Redhead was the nicest thing I’d called her.

It would have been so much easier for her to walk away. Nobody had made her pay the mortgage on Bryn Carreg. Nobody had made her visit Gentry. Nobody had made her come to the party, but she showed up. Not because she wanted to be there, but for Gentry. Her loyalty to her sister had brought her nothing but grief, and yet there she was, taking another chance on loyalty, on trusting another person. She could have stayed home, but she came for Gentry, who also didn’t want to be there. He would be looking down like he did for every family picture.

“Zhorzha,” I said, and then louder: “Zee, come be in the picture.”

“No, it’s for family. I don’t—”

“Yes, and I want you to be in it.”

“Okay, let’s put you next to Carlees,” the photographer said. After all, she was taller than Gentry.

Zee didn’t look happy, but she got down off the bar stool, still pressing her skirt to her thighs, and came to stand with us.

“My lady,” Gentry said. When I looked over my shoulder at them, he’d put his hand into hers. I predicted they would both look awkward in the photos, but they would look awkward together.

“You two don’t have to stay after the pictures,” I said to them. “I know you don’t want to be here.”

“Aren’t we having this whole party for him?” Bill said.

“Don’t be silly. This party is for me. He can celebrate any way he likes.”

“Okay,” the photographer said. “Big smiles, everybody.”

Bernice gave me a smug look and squeezed my hand again.

CHAPTER 63

Gentry

Nigh three years to the day, Lady Zhorzha and I returned to Bryn Carreg. ’Twas bright April, with all things turning to green but the air still full of winter chill. Deep in the woods, rimes of snow clung to the ground, bedded on pine needles.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to carry anything?” my lady said. She walked before me a few paces, but turned back to ask again.

“My lady, knowest thou, if I need thee to carry aught, I will ask thee.”

I would remind her that she carried things for me I could not. I would remind her that ’twas by her labor Bryn Carreg was still mine, but such words dis-eased her, so I spake them not.

I raised the pavilion upon the hill beside the tower, tho ’twas not my custom, for there was no protection from the wind. Yet I desired we should sleep in sight of the work that lay before me. Soon enough I would have other work, the building of flying machines if my father could make it so. Some other thing if not. For the nonce, I longed to finish the eastern tower, and lay as many stones as I might upon the southern tower ere