“Look at this.” He handed the phone to Zoe. A headline on the front page of the Times posed The End of the Oak Tree?
They both scanned the story. “Sounds really bad,” Zoe said.
“For forest diversity, for the whole ecosystem.”
Zoe touched his lips and pointed to her father, standing next to the computer.
“These images are in more or less chronological order,” Sam said. “But I have very few photos of Ma before she moved to Springfield.”
The group erupted into laughter at a snapshot of a pre-pubescent Flo in a school play, tied to a cardboard stake as a fan rippled red tissue paper flames.
“Flo as Joan of Arc,” Mimi said. “I love it.”
The group was quiet as they watched Flo play blurry field hockey, graduate high school, and march for civil rights in front of the Capitol. Then a black and white newspaper photo filled the small screen, grainy and dark. A group of African-Americans carrying picket signs stood in front of an old-style roller coaster.
“Who’re they?” Marlene asked.
Sam stopped the slide show and pointed. “In high school, Mom was involved in picketing to integrate this amusement park in Maryland. Glen Echo. The guy on the left is named Charlie. My mother loved him. I’m pretty sure he’s my father.”
Nobody spoke. After a few moments, Sam continued. “I found Charlie online and emailed him last night. To tell him that Flo died.” He let the silence deepen before adding. “I haven’t heard back. But if he’s willing, I’d like to meet him.”
“Oh, Sam. That’s so huge,” Anna said.
He nodded. “I’m kind of getting used to the idea. I’m intrigued to meet this guy.” He pressed Play. As the slideshow resumed, he stood behind Zoe and Jeremy, one hand on each of them. Connected that way, the three of them watched Flo’s life flash across the small screen, four seconds at a time. Flo pregnant, beaming at the camera. Sam in a baby carrier on Flo’s chest as she marched on the Pentagon.
“That was our war,” Claire said.
“Flo would say that it’s all the same war,” Mimi corrected. “Never-ending.”
Sam watched the slideshow, trying to recover his life from the old images. Ice skating as a toddler at the rink in Forest Park. A rare vacation with Flo and Brad in Florida. He smiled, remembering how much Flo hated Disney World. She called Mickey Mouse a traitor to his species.
He turned to Zoe. “You asked if I wanted to meet Charlie. That got me thinking about it. So thank you.”
“Wait and thank me if it works out,” Zoe said. “It could be pretty weird.”
“Jeremy, here’s another thing that’s weird,” Sam said. “I invited Patty to stop by for supper. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Jeremy’s therapist Patty?” Zoe asked.
“Nurse practitioner, actually,” Sam corrected him. “She and I have been emailing, and talking on the phone. I like her.”
“Just don’t talk about me,” Jeremy said.
“Promise.” Sam grinned and went to sit with Anna and Emily.
“Is that too weird?” Zoe asked. “Having Sam date your therapist?”
“I guess not. Patty’s cool.”
“So will you stay for supper too?”
“Can’t. I promised my folks I’d be home. Tim finished his finals and is coming home for a few days. Talk about weird.”
“That’s great,” Zoe said. She took his hand. “So what are you going to do about the oak trees? Or are you going to run off to Vermont and join that off-the-grid group?”
How did she know about that? He smiled to himself. “Nah. I’m going to switch my major to sustainability studies. Try to work with Professor Clarke to save the oaks.” He paused before adding, “I’ve asked the radio station if I can have my show back.”
“Really?”
He nodded.
“Flo would be proud of you,” Zoe whispered.
Jeremy rested his face on her head. He breathed in the marzipan smell of her shampoo. It didn’t matter if Patty talked about him to Sam because he had nothing to hide. He twirled a long curl of Zoe’s hair around his finger. The faint echo of Latin names danced in his ears and green shoots shimmered beneath his skin. Dormant and waiting.
Kinship of Clover Page 26
