Page 98 of What Goes Around

“Menu,” Marissa began, flipping open the first binder. “I was thinking finger foods. Mini quiches. Smoked salmon crostini.”

Apple looked up immediately. “And the spinach puffs from that bakery? The fancy ones.”

Marissa smiled. “Of course.”

I inhaled. “I don’t really like—”

“We’ll come back to that,” Marissa said lightly, already flipping the page.

Of course we would.

Music came next.

Apple didn’t wait for permission. “I’ll perform the pieces from my Juilliard submission. People loved them.”

“Perfect,” Marissa murmured, making a note. “We’ll schedule your performance halfway through the evening, once everyone’s arrived.

I nodded once. It wasn’t worth commenting.

Decorations.

Apple tapped at swatches of gold and cream. “These colors make everything look elegant.”

“They’ll photograph beautifully,” Marissa agreed.

I reached toward a darker palette set off to the side. “Maybe something less—”

Marissa didn’t even look at me. “Let’s stay consistent, sweetheart.”

Guest list.

She flipped to a page already filled out. “I’ve invited a few Juilliard contacts and their families. Some donors. People from the conservatory circle.”

Apple beamed.

“What about classmates?” I asked.

Marissa waved her pen vaguely and then reached for her tea.

“Of course all your classmates are on the list.”

She took a sip, eyes skimming the next page of the binder.

I watched her for a moment, then said lightly, as if filling the silence, “By the way—where’s Dad been lately?”

Her hand froze midair.

Apple blinked. “Yeah. He’s been coming home really late.”

I kept my voice neutral. “I was just wondering if he’s working on a big project or something. He’s barely around.”

For half a second, Marissa didn’t breathe.

The smile she’d been wearing didn’t fall, but it tightened, stretched thin across her face.

“He’s busy,” she said. “The company’s been demanding lately.”

Apple frowned. “Busy how?”