Night-Blooming Cereus
- After a few weeks, Turtle has begun to recover. She's talking again, and even talking about the attack itself. That's what we call resilience!
- Taylor, on the other hand, is still feeling hopelessly lost.
- Since the incident, Taylor and Turtle have been having regular meetings with Cynthia, the social worker who came to their house on the night of the attack.
- With Cynthia, Taylor is able to talk about the abuse Turtle suffered before they left Oklahoma. Cynthia explains that child abuse is much more common than people like to believe.
- Unfortunately, Cynthia also informs Taylor that Child Protection Services has gotten wind of the fact that Taylor has no legal claim on Turtle. Uh oh.
- Although Lou Ann is furious that the State of Arizona might take Turtle away from Taylor, she is just as furious with Taylor, who doesn't seem willing to put up much of a fight.
- Meanwhile, Mattie is getting more and more worried about how she is going to move Estevan and Esperanza to another safe-house. Why does everything happen at once!
- There's a lot going on, so it's time for a heart-to-heart. Taylor tells Mattie that she isn't sure she can give Turtle the best life possible, or keep her safe from harm.
- Mattie knows the way to respond. She tells Taylor that she is asking herself the wrong questions.
- Mattie says that Taylor shouldn't ask if she can give Turtle "the best possible upbringing and keep her out of harm's way her whole life long," because no one can do that (13.55). Instead, she says that Taylor should be asking herself, "Do I want to try?" (13.57).
- Way to turn that problem on its head, Mattie.
- Mattie's confidence in her helps to restore some of Taylor's characteristic gumption.
- Soon afterwards, Taylor books an appointment to meet with Cynthia alone.
- Taylor asks Cynthia if there is any way that she can prove her legal right to Turtle. Cynthia tells her that she would need the written consent of Turtle's biological parents, or her nearest living relative.
- To Taylor's surprise, Cynthia offers to help collect all of the legal information she needs.
- Taylor stays up that night to make her decision. Another long talk with Mattie helps. Then she heads home to tell Lou Ann what she's planning to do.
- Taylor has decided to drive to Oklahoma with Turtle to find Turtle's aunt (remember, the lady who handed her the kid through the car window) and obtain her written consent, which will make the adoption legal.
- On the way, she's going to drive Esperanza and Estevan to their new safe-house. Now that's what we call hitting two (risky, problematic) birds with one stone.
- The night before their departure, Virgie Mae knocks unexpectedly on Taylor and Lou Ann's door. She says that she and Edna have something special to show them.
- Lou Ann and Taylor get Dwayne Ray and Turtle out of bed, and bring them over to Virgie Mae and Edna's porch.
- On the porch, they see something that looks "like a bouquet of silvery-white balloons hanging in the air" (13.134). The "balloons" are night-blooming cereus, flowers that only bloom once a year.
- Lou Ann takes it as a sign. She doesn't know of what, it's got to be something good, right?
- The next day, Taylor, Turtle, Estevan, and Esperanza set out.