They sat together in the shade enjoying their cones, Doug and Winona going back and forth, talking about Naomi’s future.
“You can enroll as an Oglala now,” Doug said. “My wife can’t wait to meet you. “I’m sure the kids will be excited, too, once we explain.”
“There are lots of places on Oglala where you can study the Lakota language,” Winona added.
Doug nodded. “You can use your GED to enroll at Oglala Oyate College. I think they offer a fine arts degree.”
Tribal enrollment. A new family. Language classes. An arts degree.
Chaska had a few ideas about Naomi’s future, too, specifically his prominent place in it, but he saw the bemused expression on her face. “This must be overwhelming.”
“A little—but in a good way.” She looked up at Chaska through those sweet blue eyes. “Two weeks ago, I didn’t know any of you. Now, we’re enjoying ice cream and talking about a future I never thought I could have.”
“That’s a lot to process.” Doug wiped his fingers on his napkin, his cone devoured. “I don’t you to feel pressured.”
Then Old Man piped up, ice cream on the tip of his nose. “No person can tell another what to do. Whatever you decide, Tanagila, we will be right beside you.”
Naomi stared at him. “Did you just call me ‘hummingbird’?”
“You remember.” Chaska was impressed. He nudged her leg with his knee under the table. “I should test your vocabulary later.”
Naomi’s smile told him that this was one idea for her future that she liked.
Naomi stoodin front of the bathroom mirror, brushing her hair. She still wore the sundress Ellie and the other nurses had given her, but she’d put on mascara, lip gloss, and a touch of bronzer. “Should I change into something else? I don’t think I have anything dressier than this.”
Chaska walked into the bathroom, rested his hands on her hips. “You look fine. This is Scarlet. You’re going to a fundraiser at Knockers. Really, you’re beautiful in anything, so just wear what makes you comfortable. You can go nude if you want. I like you that way, too.”
“Right.” She met his gaze in the mirror. “Are they going to expect me to say anything, give a speech?”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t think so. Joe might say a few words, but he’s not going to expect that from you. If you want to say something or thank everyone, I’m sure he’d be good with that, too.”
“I hadn’t thought about that.” She’d never talked in front of a crowd before, and the idea filled her stomach with butterflies.
Chaska ducked down, kissed the side of her throat. “You don’t have to do or say anything tonight. Just be yourself.”
Winona appeared outside the bathroom door, wearing a cotton Aztec print skirt with a red tank top. “Can I squeeze in?”
Chaska stepped out to make room for her. “I wanted to let you know that I told Joe and Rain what happened today. They knew the basics of your story, and I wanted to fill them in so that they would understand why you suddenly have a father.”
That made sense to Naomi. “Thanks.”
Winona looked her brother up and down. “Isthatwhat you’re wearing?”
He looked down at his T-shirt and climbing pants. “What? We’re just going to Knockers. The wait staff doesn’t even dress up.”
“Yeah, but it’s Naomi’s fundraiser.”
Naomi and Chaska left Winona in the bathroom and made their way downstairs to find both Grandpa Belcourt and Doug—herfather—waiting for them. Doug had changed from jeans and a shirt to black slacks and a blue dress shirt with a bolo tie that had a silver buffalo skull on it. Grandpa Belcourt was wearing new jeans and a polo shirt, a small medicine wheel with an eagle feather tied into his hair in back.
“Don’t you both look nice?”
“This is the first time I’m going out in public with my new daughter. I don’t want to disappoint her,” Doug said.
Naomi’s heart melted at those words.
Grandpa looked at Chaska, frowned. “You look like we’re goin’ to the drive-through pizzeria in White River.”
Naomi didn’t know exactly what this meant, but clearly, Grandpa wasn’t happy.