Free A Smidgen of Sky by Dianna Dorisi Winget

plastic wrap rolling across the table.
    Ginger crept back over and peered into Mama’s face. “Why doesn’t he want me to talk to her, Heather? I need to. I’ve never got to before.”
    Mama’s eyes darted from Ginger to me to the screen door. I could tell she didn’t have a clue what to say. “I think he’s just a little put-out right now, honey. Give him a minute.”
    My insides felt as shook up as a bottle of salad dressing. I couldn’t believe Tina had actually called.
Sometimes I miss that little girl an awful lot.
Why did she pretend to miss Ginger when she hadn’t even asked me about her?
I’ll give a call back tomorrow night.
Would she? And if she did call, would she tell Ben how she’d learned of the wedding? How in the world would I explain myself? And how come I’d been so dumb as not to see this problem ahead of time?
    Ginger slipped back into her chair. I picked at the rest of my food, but there wasn’t much left of my appetite. After a while, Mama lifted her glass of sweet tea and stood. “I think I’ll go check on your daddy now.”
    â€œTell him I need to talk to her,” Ginger whispered. “Please?”
    The screen door creaked open again, and Mama let it close gently behind her.
    Ginger kneeled in her chair to peek out the kitchen window.
    â€œCan you see them?” I asked.
    â€œThey’re on the porch swing.” She ducked back down. “I didn’t think she’d ever call again. Maybe she does care about me, just a little, no matter what that letter said.”
    â€œCourse she does,” I said, thankful that Ginger seemed too distracted to connect me to the phone call.
    I started stacking plates, and Ginger put the refrigerator stuff away. We left Ben’s plate of food on the table. He hadn’t taken a single bite. His and Mama’s voices were a low murmur outside, barely loud enough for us to tell which of them was talking. But all of a sudden they got louder, and then louder still, until Ben sounded plain riled up and Mama barely spoke at all. It was the closest they’d ever come to arguing, and knowing it was my fault didn’t feel good.
    Ben strode through the door a moment later. Ginger and I scooted out of his way as he sat down at the table and took his first bite.
    Mama wandered in behind him looking a little teary-eyed. She forced a smile and pushed a strand of hair back from her face. “Come on, Piper Lee. I think we best go home.”
    Ben shook his head. “I never said I wanted you to leave, Heather.”
    â€œI know. I just think the two of you need a little time to talk. You can give me a call later if you like.”
    â€œThis is not the way supper was s’posed to go.”
    Mama patted his shoulder. “I know, guy. But it was a real good supper anyhow, wasn’t it, Piper Lee?”
    I nodded. “Especially the pork.”
    Ginger hovered by the sink, not saying a word, but I could tell she didn’t want us to go. I tried to think of something nice to say, but my brain was doing too much bouncing around. “See ya later,” I said.
    I waited until we turned off Hillman Lane and onto the main road before asking, “Why doesn’t Ben want Ginger to talk to her mama?”
    â€œâ€™Cause, honey. He’s worried she might get hurt.”
    â€œDoes he think Tina’s a bad person?”
    â€œNo, not a bad person, just . . . irresponsible, you might say. And he’s not real sure what Tina’s motive is. He doesn’t feel he can trust her.”
    â€œI still don’t get it, Mama. How can Ginger get hurt just by talking to her?”
    Mama didn’t answer right away. She drummed her thumbs on the steering wheel. “You know how sometimes when you only know bits and pieces about somebody, you’re forced to let your imagination fill in all the rest? And when it’s a person you really wish you knew,