“No. To be honest, I’m not even sure I️ remembered to invite Simon. Planning parties is one thing but remembering you’re going to the planned party is completely different. I️’m not good at multi-thinking. I’m amazing at multitasking. Thinking about something in two different ways, like planning and attending the same thing, is not a strong point.”
Rebecca rubbed her hands together. Watching her was making me nervous, so I️ grabbed her hands to still them. “Everything is going to be okay,” I️ said. “Why don’t you come in and have dinner? Then you can see how nothing in life ever goes as planned anyhow.”
She smiled a little. “You’d be okay with me crashing your dinner?”
I️ let go of her hands and opened my door. “I’m positive. With two teenage boys, we make so much food one more person won’t matter. Just come and eat and then go home and go to bed.”
We walked into my kitchen to find Simon making dinner and James doing his homework at the table. Paul and Tyler weren’t in sight.
I️ gave Simon a kiss. “I️ invited Rebecca.” I️ looked at the stove. “What are you cooking?”
“He’s making yucky food, Mom. Can we go out?” James said.
“I’m making homemade macaroni and cheese instead of out of a box,” Simon said. “A protest was soundly made, acknowledged, and ignored.”
“Today must’ve been a day for protest,” I️ said as I️ walked over to James and mussed his hair. “Why are you doing homework on a Friday?”
“It’s extra credit,” James said. “It’s just a word search and a math worksheet. Simon said I️ should get it done now and then I️ wouldn’t have to think about it the rest of the weekend.”
“Simon’s pretty smart,” I️ said. I️ turned back to Rebecca. “Put your bag wherever you want. I’m going to go throw my purse in my room and take my shoes off. Feel free to do the same. We’re pretty casual here.”
It wasn’t until I️ was in my room that I️ realized I’d left Simon in a room with a beautiful twenty-something and I️ hadn’t thought twice about it. I️ would never have done that with John. Even before he and Trudy got together, there had been faithfulness issues, and I’d been wary. I wondered if I️ was being naive and stupid again.
When I️ walked back to the kitchen, Rebecca was helping James with his word search and Simon was putting the macaroni and cheese in the oven. I️ smiled at the scene and a sense of relief washed over me.
I️ walked behind Simon and took down three glasses. I️ filled them with water and told Rebecca to join us in the living room while dinner cooked. “Unless there’s more to do.” I️ looked at Simon. “Is there anything I️ can help with? Are there veggies to be made?”
Simon shook his head. “I’m microwaving peas as a peace treaty for my mutiny against the perfection of Kraft.”
James smiled. “I love microwaved peas in butter sauce.”
“That’s not really butter,” Simon said.
“But it’s yummy.”
Simon and Rebecca followed me to the living room. We could still see James at the kitchen table, but it felt a little more private.
“Where are Paul and Tyler?” I️ asked as I️ sat on the sofa. Simon sat next to me and Rebecca sat in the plush, red chair. It was the best seat in the house, but I️ couldn’t sit next to Simon in it.
“Paul stayed late at practice to run a few more drills, and Tyler is listening to music in his room, I️ assume.” Simon took his hand in mine and played with my fingers. This would distract me from Rebecca, but I️ decided I️ was okay with distractions Simon instigated. “How did the day go?”
“It went well,” Rebecca said. “It went really, really well.” She smiled and turned red.
Simon squinted at her. “What do you mean by that?”
I️ pulled my leg up onto the couch. “She spent the day with Justin. Her high school crush.”
“You spent the day with picketers and John,” Rebecca said. She inhaled deeply. “Oh. Should I️ not have said that? I️ probably shouldn’t have.”
Simon turned to me and waited.
“It’s fine,” I️ said to Rebecca. I leaned back a little to see face Simon better. “He wanted to talk alone with me and instead he talked with me and two Pilgrims. They like you, by the way. I️ think I️ want to invite them to our wedding.”
Simon nodded as if it was perfectly normal to invite Pilgrims to our wedding. “How did John handle that?”
I️ sighed and squeezed his hand. “I️ never thought I’d say this, but part of me wants to fix John up with someone so he’ll be busy and forget about me again. I️ just don’t hate anyone enough to do that.”
“Maybe you should ask Trudy to go back to him,” Rebecca said before taking a drink.
I️ looked at her for a second, thinking about the option. I️ decided against it. “I️ still can’t stand her. I️ decided not to hate John because he’s the father of my kids and all that and because I️ have to talk to him regularly. It made it easier to move on with him when I️ had all of my negative energy directed toward Trudy. I haven’t spoken to her willingly for years.” I️ thought for a moment. “I️ don’t remember the last time I spoke to her. It’s been kind of nice.” I️ turned back to Rebecca. “You should call her and tell her that she should go back to John. Just don’t mention me. I️ wouldn’t be surprised if she left him because she knew it would make my life harder. If she hadn’t gone for someone with more money, I️ would’ve bet the house that’s why she did it.”
“I️ thought she was your best friend,””Rebecca said.
“Some people aren’t capable of having deep friendships,” I️ said. “I️ wish I’d known that when we met. I️ wasted too much time on her too.” Simon’s thumb rubbed circles on my wrist. I️ suddenly wanted everyone to leave the house so the two of us could be alone. Knowing this wouldn’t happen, I️ sighed and decided to change the subject. “Why don’t you tell Simon about Justin and you can get his opinion.”
Rebecca put her right leg under her left then looked at Simon. She cleared her throat and took her right leg out from under her other and put both feet on the ground. I️ didn’t think my comfy red chair was working its magic on her. She cleared her throat again and clasped her hands together. She looked at both of us for help and we sat there waiting. I️ smiled at her.
Simon finally broke the silence. “Who’s Justin?”
Rebecca looked at her hands. “He’s this guy I️ had a crush on in high school.” She unclasped her hands and clenched them. “I️ don’t remember us hitting it off very much in high school, but we sure hit it off today. Maybe we did hit it off in high school. I️ mean, we were friends and we talked and everything, but I️ don’t remember getting the vibes I️ was getting today.”
“You may not have noticed them in high school,” I️ said.
“I️ dunno. I️ think I️ liked him so much, I️ would’ve clued in on anything besides friendship.”
“He seemed to look for you today, so maybe there was something.”
“Maybe,” Rebecca said slowly. “I️ don’t know. I️ do know it was really easy to talk to him, and I️ enjoyed being with him more than I️ remembered in high school.”
“I️ don’t understand why that’s a problem,” Simon said.
“I’m trying to decide if I️ should follow a guy to med school.”
“Aah,” Simon said. He nodded a few times. “And now you’re questioning your life and all existence.”
Rebecca turned red.
I️ touched my finger to my nose. “I’ve taught you so much the last couple of years.”
He squeezed my hand. “I️ owe most of my current success in life to you.”
“Do you think this is a problem?” I️ asked him.
“I’m unsure spending one day with someone you haven’t seen in five years is much of a problem.”
“Would you spend the day with an ex-potential girlfriend now that you’re engaged?” Rebecca asked S
imon.
I️ situated myself so that I️ was closer to him, letting him know I️ was riveted to his response.
He looked at me from the corner of his eyes and pinched my arm.
“Ow.” I️ said.
Simon ignored me and focused on Rebecca. “I️ don’t think reconnecting with an old friend is that big a deal, even though he's male. I️ think the focus should be on the fact you feel like it’s a big deal and therefore it is.”
“So if I️ act cool, I️ can just go on with my life,” Rebecca said, staring into space. I️ could see the wheels turning.
“But it's too late,” Simon said. “You already reacted.”
“How would you feel if you were Aidan?” Rebecca asked.
“Who’s Aidan?”
“Her boyfriend at college,” I️ said.
“Hard to say. I️ don’t know how he feels about you. He isn’t giving anything up to go to med school. You are. Maybe this has more to do with the fact you don’t want to give up school. Justin isn’t asking you to, therefore Justin wins.”
Rebecca teared up. “But I️ don’t want to lose Aidan.”
“Him or the security of having a boyfriend?” I️ asked.
She thought for a moment and said, “Him. I’ve spent a lot of time single. I️ could do it again.”
“Then I️ got nothing,” Simon said. He leaned back.
I️ smacked him on the arm. “Thank you so much.”
He smacked me back. “I’ve never had to give up anything for someone I️ loved like that. I’m going to give up my apartment, but that's about it. That doesn’t come close to what you’re dealing with.” He turned to me. “You’d be better suited to help her.”
“I’m not sure I’m the right one for the job,” I️ said. “I’ve been questioning my decisions ever since I️ met her.”
“Not recent ones, I️ hope,” he said.
“No.” I️ smacked his arm again. “I’ve been wondering if I️ made the right decisions when I️ was in her shoes.”
“And?”
“The jury’s still out.”
17
I woke up Saturday morning wanting to take a nap. Today was going to be long because the reunion started and, therefore, ended late. This was also the day for stupid personality awards and the Where Are They Now? slideshow. I️ had a feeling something bad would happen today. At the very least, someone was going to cry. Whether out of happiness or sadness, crying is messy, and I️ really didn’t want to deal with it after eight in the evening.
Rebecca came over, and we drove to the gym to decorate. I️ told Paul and Tyler I’d pay them ten bucks an hour to help us, so they were coming with James a little later. I️ also told James he could eat candy for lunch if he was happy and didn’t try to take anything apart. I️ figured he could help put tables and chairs up. That would take more candy, but as long as he brushed his teeth really well tonight, there shouldn’t be any lasting ill effects.
When Rebecca and I️ arrived at the school, Principal Bennett was standing by the doors closest to the parking lot.
“Does he need to be here to open the door?” Rebecca asked.
“I️ have no idea why he’s here. I️ have a key that can get me in the door around the side. I️ figured we just needed a janitor to help after that.”
We each took a box out of Rebecca’s trunk and headed toward the school. When we walked up to him, Principal Bennett widened his stance and folded his arms. A nap was sounding priceless right now.
“You didn’t get approval for using the building today,” Bennett said.
“I️ signed up on the building page of the school district website. I️ also got all of our plans approved by you.”
“But you didn’t get my signature on the paper for building use.”
“Why does that matter? You signed off on all of the plans. I️ figured you’d have read the section about Saturday’s activities.” I️ tightened my grip on the box. I️ wondered if I️ looked up Little Man Syndrome in a psychology book, Principal Bennett’s picture would be there.
“You’re having a dance,” he said.
“Yes.” My knuckles were turning white I️ was holding on to the box so hard.
“Do you have chaperones?”
“It’s not a high school dance.”
“It says in the school bylaws that any dance held in the school gym needs chaperones.”
I️ squinted at him. “Then why did you sign off on our plans?”
“I️ want to make sure you understand what a special and unique experience you’re having at my school.”
I️ shook my head as if to clear it. “I’m confused. Why are you here again? Do you need to unlock the doors?”
“I️ need to make sure the building is taken care of.”
“I️ thought that was the only reason why I️ was a part of this whole fiasco. And why you signed off on everything. And why I️ made sure there would be a custodian in the building during the decorating and the dance.”
He nodded a few times with authority. “As long as all of this is understood.”
“Is the door open?”
He nodded. I️ walked passed him, balanced the box on my knee, and grabbed the handle. I held the door open for Rebecca. Principal Bennett turned as if he were going to follow her.
“If you walk in here, you better help with the decorations,” I️ said. “There are four more boxes in Rebecca’s car that need to be brought in.”
Principal Bennett looked shocked I️ would ask him to help. I️ frowned at him, took my foot away from the door, and walked toward the gym.
“What was that?” Rebecca asked.
“That was a sign we need a new principal,” I️ said. “Bennett needs to retire and go to a rest home where he can play bingo on Wednesdays and eat pudding on Thursdays. I️ can’t stand that guy.”
“He’s your boss.”
We walked into the multipurpose gym. The bleachers were pushed up against the two longest walls, and there were trolleys with folded tables in the right corner with stacks of chairs next to them. A helium tank stood in a corner. The stage took up the far wall. The school had a nicer auditorium on the opposite end of the school. This stage was mostly used for band practices and class presentations. It also held the DJ for school dances and for tonight’s reunion.
I️ put my box down on the stage. “That’s why no one envies my life.”
“I️ don’t get what just happened.”
“He doesn’t like me. If you were working with anyone else, that wouldn’t have happened. I️ dunno. Maybe he has a cousin who’s graduating with an English teaching degree this year.”
Rebecca put her box next to mine, and we headed back out to her car.
“Do you really think so?” she asked.
“Who knows?”
“Why you and not one of the other teachers?”
“Maybe he's jealous Simon chose me.”
“Bennett's gay?”
I️ cough laughed. “That would be a great rumor to get going.” I️ picked up a box. “Maybe we should if it means I️ never have to help with a reunion again.”
“Has it really been that bad?”
“No.” I️ opened the door for us again. “I️ just don’t like lugging boxes around. By this time tomorrow, I️’ll have great memories.”
Rebecca smiled at me. “I’m sure I️ will too.”
“About Justin,” I️ said in a sing-song voice.
She hurried to the stage. We put our boxes down and headed back out for the last ones.
When we got back, we opened all six boxes and pulled out the tablecloths and ribbons for the backs of the chairs.
As we were tying the ribbons into bows, Tyler, Paul and James walked in with Simon behind them. I️ walked up to Simon and gave him a kiss.
“You didn’t have to come,” I️ said.
“Yeah. Right. I️ have nothing else going on, and you’re spending the day turning the gym into a…” He looke
d around. “What are we turning it into?”
“I’m hoping it looks like a night at the Oscars -- except without all of the famous people or actual Oscars.” I️ peeked in a box and pulled out a rolled carpet. “I guess it's just going to be a bunch of balloons and streamers with a red carpet down the middle. Plus, a photo booth and plastic champagne glasses. Maybe it’s more a Golden Globes night because of the alcohol.”
“Can you have alcohol in a high school?”
“The alcohol is actually outside in a fenced area with a member of the local police force hanging out and a certified bartender.”
Simon and the boys started setting up tables over the half of the gym closest to the stage.
“What’s a certified bartender? There’s a certification?” Paul asked.
I️ threw a tablecloth on each of the tables. “I️ have no idea what it means. I️ know that we followed some law somewhere by doing all three of those things.”
“How did you find a certified bartender?” Simon asked.
“The web.”
Rebecca and I️ placed the tablecloths over each of the tables as the boys set up chairs.
“It should take ten chairs per table,” Rebecca said as she and I️ walked over to the helium tank with 500 balloons waiting to be filled. “Are we really filling all of these up?”
“Let’s see how many we can fill in an hour. This is our main decoration, so I️ feel like we should do as many as possible.”
“Does Simon know how much Principal Bennett hates you?” Rebecca whispered.
“I️ complain about him a lot, but to be honest, I️ have no idea if I’ve portrayed how mutual the feeling is.”
“Could you stay home once you were married again?”
My hand slipped with this question and a balloon blew across the room. James screamed and ran after it.
“Uhm. That will never be an option again,” I️ said. I️ grabbed another balloon and filled it.
“Why not?”
“That ship has sailed. I’ll never not work. I️’ll always support myself. And my kids.”
“Do you get alimony or child support?”
“I’ve learned that you can only really count on yourself. I️ know that sounds pessimistic and horrid, but it’s kind of true. I️ count on Simon. I️ do. He helps more than I ever expected. But I️ need a safety net, and I’ve learned that having a job is the safety net I️ need.”
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