out of the bottom of the stack and flutters to the floor. Brow furrowed, I unfold the fancy, flower-embossed stationery and read the note.
Ava,
I am so excited that you’re going to help plan the big reunion!
Call me so we can figure out all of the details! (555-143-6789)
Can’t wait to see you in December!
XOXO, Callie
Car tires and records screech, and a gap opens up in the space-time continuum. What in the sweet baby Jesus in a manger did I just read?
Help plan the reunion? Me?
No no no no no no. I don’t think so.
Where in the hell did she get the idea that I would?
“Hello?” Em’s voice fills my ear. “You still there, Ava?”
“Shit. Sorry.” I shake my head to pull myself out of my spiral into the world’s worst nightmare. “I just…uh…I got this really weird invitation in the mail, and I’m…confused.”
“What invitation?”
“To my fifteen-year high school reunion.”
“Oh yeah, I think I heard Mom talking about that the other day. I—”
“Hold the phone.” I cut her off before she can continue, my spidey senses officially engaged. “How does Mom know about this?
“I think she ran into someone you went to high school with or something,” she answers. “Why?”
Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me…
“Em, I gotta go,” I say and don’t waste any time ending the call and dialing another—more pressing—number. No offense to my sister, but I have a serious bone to pick with our mother, and justified homicide is the kind of scheduled event that really can’t wait.
I tap my fancy-booted toe and grind my teeth while the phone rings, and when she doesn’t answer her cell, I give my parents’ house phone a try.
Fifteen seconds later, my mom’s voice fills my ears.
“Hey, honey! Did you change your mind about the cute lawyer? I have his num—”
No time for pleasantries about the usual auctioning off of my flesh, I stop her before she can even get started. “Why did I get an invitation in the mail to my high school reunion? And why does it seem like someone has volunteered me to help plan it?”
“A high school reunion? How fun! I never went to any of my reunions, you know. I was too busy raising you girls—” I know instantly by the way she’s hem-hawing around, she’s the culprit.
“Mom,” I interrupt. “Why on earth would you say I would help plan this thing?”
“Who is that, Rose?” Aunt Poppy’s voice chimes in from the background.
“Shh,” my mom hushes her and clears a nervous titter from her throat. “Ava, honey, I ran into Callie not too long ago, and she seemed so excited to catch up with you. I know you’re busy down there in New York, but I also know you’re going to be up here for your sister’s wedding and—”
“And, what?”
“Well…”
“Mom.”
“Well…we got to talking, and she said she was hoping to have a few people help her plan the big reunion, and I guess I kind of…sort of…maybe told her you’d be able to help a little.”
I can’t even speak, my throat is so tight.
“It’s a good thing, honey! Think of all the friends you’ll get to see. I really wish I’d gone to my reunions. They’re a milestone—”
“You’re joking, right?” I toss back. I know it’s rude not to let her finish, but the beating of my heart has tripled in speed, and if I don’t find a way to get out of this soon, it’ll give up the fight, I know it.
“Mom, for the love of everything, tell me you’re joking.”
“Ava—”
“High school for you was very different from high school for me, Mom. You know that.”
I wait for her to plead her case or apologize or something, but all she gives me is the raspy exhale of air.
“Rose Lucie, I know you’re still there. I can hear your heavy breathing on the phone.”
“I don’t breathe that loud,” she retorts through a sniffle, and I groan. God. Why does she always have to cry when I get up the nerve to tell even an ounce of the truth?
I try to gentle my voice as I explain all the things she should already remember. “My high school experience wasn’t all sunshine and freaking pom-poms, Mom. Callie Camden was an absolute wench to me. I already keep in contact with the people I want to keep in contact with. I don’t need to see anyone else.”
She sniffles again, and I close my eyes and tap my closed fist against my forehead.
“It’s just such a shame you and Callie stopped