Firekeeper's Daughter: Chapters 1–13

In my imagined scenarios, a single furrowed brow conveys disappointment, annoyance, and the retracting of previous accolades.

In the Before, her scrutiny of my fashion choices bugged the crap out of me. But now? Her one-sided scowl at my oversized T-shirt feels like a perfect slap shot to the top shelf.

I retrieve a lipstick from the basket on the bedside table. GrandMary believes in greeting the day with a perfect red smile. Gliding the matte ruby over her thin lips, I remember my earlier plea for courage.

Eighteen years ago, my arrival changed my mother's world. Ruined the life her parents had preordained for her.

She was adamant that her brother had never used other substances.

"Holy." Lily skates over in time to add her succinct opinion.

Levi told people he was descended from a powerful chief and a medicine woman. He claimed that his sweetgrass was magical. You know, that hokey stuff tourists like to believe.

"It sounds like you have some feelings about the per capita payments."

Protecting Mom from full disclosure isn't the same thing as lying.

"Good. Because things end how they start," she says before wandering off to haggle with vendors for senior discounts.

Where is the boy who convinced me to place my textbook beneath my pillow the night before a test in case its contents might permeate our brains through osmosis?

I call to her before realizing I sound exactly like Travis trying to cajole her into doing what he wanted.

Then she leaped on his back like a tenacious baby wolf spider.

It is for atonement. She will face every living creature she ever harmed during her lifetime.

A few people approach us to offer comfort to Lily's great-grandmother, but she is still inside my sanctuary. Auntie accepts their hugs as proxy.