We’ll Meet Again Someday

“Oh, my God!” Audra heard Emma exclaim from the kitchen. “I didn’t recognize you at first. You look so different!” Audra entered the kitchen a few seconds later to find that Riana’s hair was now a deep shade of rust red and only a few inches longer than hers. What surprised her most was how good it looked. She wouldn’t admit this to anyone, but she’d been secretly wondering if she would still see Riana the same once her hair was cut. She’d only known her to have long hair. Emma was right. She looked different. But she still looked beautiful. James gathered newspapers from the kitchen table. “Looks like you’ll be a lot cooler for the remainder of the summer.” “Yeah,” Riana agreed, “that I will.” She gathered it back in a high ponytail, which Audra thought was cute. “I like it both short and long,” said Emma as she and her dad started to leave the room. “I’ll be out front mowing,” James called back over his shoulder. “Okay,” said Audra. Riana and Audra gazed at each other for a moment, then Riana announced that she’d get to work. She cleaned the downstairs and headed upstairs nearly an hour later. Once she reached the top of the stairs, she could see Emma sitting at her computer. “I hear you’re leaving for California soon,” she said. Emma glanced up at her, quickly closed a window on her computer, obviously not wanting anyone to see whatever it was, and said, “Yeah, tomorrow. I’m going to my aunt and cousin’s house. I go every summer, but this will be the first time I’ll be there for two months instead of just one. I won’t be back until school starts, and I turn fifteen.” “Which comes first, school or your birthday?” “My birthday. It’s on September first.” “So, you’re starting high school this year?” Emma nodded. “I’m nervous about it, too.” “Don’t be,” Riana said in a reassuring voice. “It’s better than elementary and middle school.” “Is it?” “That’s what most people think.” “And I think you'd better get to work.” Riana turned to face Audra, not at all surprised to see her standing there, arms folded across her chest, a serious look on her face. “Right to it, boss.” She pulled her iPod out of her pocket. “Is a little music okay?” Audra nodded abruptly and said, “It just may keep you quiet for a while.” Riana laughed. “Don’t count on it.” Audra stepped into Emma’s room as she began dusting the guestroom. She glanced at the spot behind the bed where she’d hidden the other night. She nearly laughed at the thought of it, remembering how terrified she’d been at the possibility of getting caught. She began to sing softly as she moved about the room. A moment later, she was startled at the sight of both Audra and Emma standing just outside the door. She yanked the earbuds out. “Too loud?” “Wow, I didn’t know you sang in Spanish!” Emma exclaimed. “Oh, Mom, can she make some CDs if she’d agree to!” “No, Emma, there’s no time for stuff like this. We’ve got to spend tonight getting you packed. You’re leaving tomorrow.” “Oh, not even an hour?” “Not even an hour.” Disappointed, Emma left the room. Audra turned back to Riana. “So, where did this come from, Riana?” she asked, almost as if she suspected Riana had stolen her voice somehow. “Who knows? I guess that’d be a lot like asking why some of us are short and others too serious.” “Ever think of getting a job singing somewhere?” “Yeah, a while back I did until I realized I’d hate the lifestyle. I like to work where I don’t have to deal with so many people.” Audra nodded as if she understood, then said, “James is also going to be taking off, but only for one night.” “Is he?” Audra nodded again. “On business. He sometimes aids in private investigations, and this is one of those cases that extends beyond Arizona.” “Ah, one of those, huh?” “Yeah, so he’ll be in Nevada tomorrow morning, and then again in the afternoon Emma leaves, so maybe we could go out for dinner around four. That way we’ll beat the dinner crowd and won’t have to worry about having to deal with so many people, as you say.” Riana laughed. “Okay. I should be back by then. I promised Yolanda I’d help her pick out a dress for a friend’s wedding, but I’ll be back around 3:30.” “That’ll work,” Audra said, leaning against the doorjamb. Riana inserted her earbuds again and finished dusting while she watched for a few moments before going downstairs.