Page 8 of Unbound
We drive to the Walmart a few miles down the road. When we get inside, I grab a cart and head for the toiletries. They have a travel kit with all the necessities, like a toothbrush, body wash, shampoo, soap, and more. I throw it in the basket. As we’re headed out of the aisle, I see a familiar pink box that my sister, Dolly, always had in her bathroom cabinet. I don’t want Eden to feel awkward about it, so I quickly add the feminine hygiene product to the basket.
“You need anything?” I ask.
She shakes her head.
“You know, in my family, I’m the quiet one. You’re challenging me for my title over here with all this silence.”
A shy smile spreads across her lips. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. I’m just curious about you, is all. Where are you from?”
“Texas. Super-small town.”
“Oh, yeah? I’m from La Pradera. You know where that is?”
“Yeah, it’s about four hours from my hometown.”
“You got any family?”
We walk by a display with granola bars, so I throw a pack in the basket.
“I have nine siblings.”
“Damn, really? Where do you fall in the lineup?”
“Number three.”
“Do y’all have the same two parents?”
She nods. “Yes.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-one. You?”
“I’m an old man. Twenty-eight.”
We’re passing by the luggage section, so I grab a green backpack and add it to the basket. Right next to it is the women’s clothes. I look her up and down before selecting a size small in black leggings and a flannel button-down. I choose a packet of socks and plain underwear too. There’s a set of pink pajamas with little bows on them that I throw in too.
“What is all this for?” she finally asks, studying the contents of my basket.
“I just figured you might need a couple of things for the road trip.”
I keep walking, not giving her a chance to protest.
She catches up to me, a line between her brows. “I don’t need all this.”
“I’m still gonna buy it. Do you wear makeup?”
She purses her lips. “I was never allowed to, but I’ve tried a few things. Do you think I need it?”
I stop the cart, turning to look down at her flawless skin. “No, I don’t. But if you feel better in it, then you should try it again.”
She looks at the cart, gnawing on her lip. “This is too much already.”
“It’s my money, and I do what I want with it. I want to buy this stuff.”
I stop by the makeup section and throw in a few things that I’ve seen Dolly use, like mascara and tinted lip balm. I also grab a hairbrush with hair ties.
