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I hadn’t seen my mom, yet, when I felt Henry’s hand graze my lower back. Chills from his touch covered my bare arms in goosebumps. "I want to meet your mom, okay?” He whispered in my ear, sending chills all over the rest of me. “And you can meet my parents.”
Not meaning to, I bristled a little. He moved his hand.
“I’m sorry,” I said and smiled. “I should’ve brought a sweater. I knew it.”
“Want me to run back and get one for you?” He asked.
“No, no.” I shook my head. “I’m fine. Thank you.”
Just then, a woman in a dark red dress waved and smiled broadly.
“That’s your mom?” I asked. “She’s beautiful.”
“Yeah. She is. Thanks.” Henry said, smiling toward her and waving back. The man next to her, who I assumed was Henry’s dad, was tan and slightly gray in his temples but younger and more attractive than I thought he’d be. It was probably his I have more money than I can spend glow. Henry turned to me. “I’m gonna go see them, then I’ll come look for you and your mom, okay?”
I nodded. “Sounds good.” My eyes followed Henry as he hugged his mom with the warmth of a favorite friend he hadn’t seen in a long time then shook his father’s hand. Even from far away, I felt the tension between them. Neither smiled. Feeling like a stalker for staring too long at the Walton’s reunion, I looked around for my mom and spotted her in her usual Visitation Day outfit of black trousers and a white blouse. Oh, good. I thought to myself. She’s wearing the gold earrings I left for her. They were fake, of course, but looked expensive enough that I knew she’d feel confident if she wore them today. Feeling terrible that she was standing alone, I ran across the grass in Lexi’s dress, thankful I’d decided on flip-flops instead of heels.
We locked eyes, and I fell into her arms. “I’m so happy to see you, Mom.” I gushed and nuzzled my chin into her neck like when I was little.
“I wouldn’t miss this for the world, Gracie!” She hugged me tighter then pulled back. “Let me get a look at my big, fancy boarding school genius!” She moved a stray hair out of my face. “And those eyes. Oh, how I’ve missed looking into them.” “I’ve missed you, too, Mom.” I exhaled. “How’s home? You doing okay?”
“Same as always, Gracie. You know how it is.”
That was my mom’s way of saying another boyfriend dumped her and left his bills for her to pay.
"Well, I’m glad you’re here. Thanks for taking the train. I know it’s a long trip.”
“Are you kidding? I got to sit down for a few hours and not have to pick up after anyone.” My mom laughed. “And now I get to eat fancy food and chat with fancy people about how amazing and brilliant our children are. For one evening, I get to play dress up and pretend I’m one of the people whose hotel rooms I clean.” She took a sip of champagne with her pinky pointed then shimmied her shoulders and giggled.
I gave her another hug. “I’ll make enough money to give you this life every day, Mom.”
Lexi brought her parents over to the tall table where we were standing. “Mom, Dad, you remember Ms. O’Connell, right?”
Her mom smiled sweetly. “Of course, Alexa.” She hugged my mom. “So nice to see you, again, Bethany.” She then hugged me. “And sweet, smart Grace. You’re even more beautiful than the last time we saw you.”
As I hugged Lexi’s mom, I scanned the area for Henry but didn’t see him.
Mom reached out her hand to Lexi’s dad. “Hello, Peter.”
“Hello, Bethany. How are you?” They shook hands.
“I’m glad I get the chance to thank you both for letting Grace come to your home last
summer. She had a wonderful time.”
“Of course!” Kate said, taking my hand. “She’s welcome, anytime.”
“Hey, Mom?” Lexi interrupted, something I’d never do. “This conversation is like super interesting, but we’re gonna go find our friends, okay?”
I rolled my eyes at my mom, like I didn’t have a choice, although I was antsy to find Henry because after tomorrow, we weren’t going to see each other for six weeks.
“You go, girls.” Kate said, linking arms with my mom. “We'll go chat with Headmaster Waltz.”
As Lexi and I left our parents, I looked around the reception for Henry.
“Just text him,” Lexi said.
“No, that’s weird. He’s busy with his parents. I don’t wanna bug him.”
