It was their tradition to eat Mexican food for dinner to mark the occasion, because Ada and Preach had eaten Mexican just before the babies came. Ada decided to take the girls on a walk around Radnor Lake as part of the festivities. This was not part of the tradition. They wanted to go to the Loveless Café and eat biscuits and bacon and jam and drink Bloody Marys and coffee. Ada offered to feed them sweet potatoes baked in their jackets. The girls agreed—if they could have their birthday presents early, and mani-pedis instead of the walk. Over breakfast Ada gave each daughter a gym membership for her respective town, tucked into a birthday card. Ruth and Naomi looked at Ada like she was crazy. Then she handed each a giant dress box wrapped in newspaper and a great big bow. When they opened the boxes, each daughter had a long black party dress. The girls fell out laughing. Ada had recycled their debutante gowns—dyed the white dresses black! The girls stripped in the kitchen. After tugging, and squeezing, and pulling up of zippers, the dresses were on, and the girls looked fabulous—but they did not look fit.
