36
Kai takes my hand and leads me to the sandy dance floor. I watch my mother swaying to the music in my father’s arms. Her sandals are dangling from her finger. She looks lovely and relaxed—more relaxed than I have ever before seen her.
The sand feels cool on my feet as Kai and I slow dance to the reggae tune the band is playing. I’m glad that Baggy insisted that Ruthie and I go with bare feet (like her) for the ceremony. The sand in my shoes would have been driving me crazy by now. As I look around, it’s easy to see that pretty much everyone has given up on wearing shoes.
“My feet are going to be so soft. This sand is better than any loofah scrub.”
He stops dancing and looks down at me with a look that I can only describe as pure adoration. I have never before had anyone gaze at me l
