Page 90 of The Last Thing You Said

Mom smiles and reaches across the table to pat my hand. “Now, I need a favor. Can you work Monday? It’s our big Grand Reopening, you know, with a ribbon cutting from the Chamber of Commerce and everything. Louis from the paper will be there. Clayton’s coming home for it.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, and Dad took the day off. I’d like for the whole family to be there.”

“But you need me to work?”

“You’re as much a part of this place as anyone.”

“No problem,” I tell her. “What time?”

“No problem?” she repeats. “Who are you and what have you done with my daughter?”

“Ha ha.”

Mom reaches across the table again, this time for an onion ring. “So, tell me about Simon.”

I roll my eyes and take another bite of pie. “Don’t invite Simon and Shay to the Grand Opening, okay?” I mumble through a mouthful of meringue. “I’m going to break up with him.”

“I thought you liked him.”

My phone buzzes with Simon’s name at the top of the screen. “Speak of the devil,” I mutter.

My grandpa died today. We’re on our way home. I won’t be back for a few days.

My breath rushes out of me, awful feelings of relief and guilt. “Oh.”

“What’s wrong?” Mom asks.

“Simon’s grandfather died.”

Her eyes go soft. “That’s terrible.”

I tap out a quick reply. Simon, I’m so sorry.

I set my phone aside. There isn’t much else to say.

47 · Ben

When I get home from the cemetery, Mum’s clearing glasses and a tray of cookies off the table.

“Hey,” I say to her back, and when she turns from the sink, she has a huge smile on her face.

“Ben, thank you.” She sets down the tray. “Thank you so much.” She hugs me tight.

For what? I count the glasses. Four.

“Um, did you have company?”

“Yes,” she says, and finally lets me go. “Lucy and her delightful friend, Hannah.”

“What?”

“They popped over after the parade. Thank you, Ben, for clearing things up with Lucy. I hope that you’ll be able to be friends with her again.”

I stare at her, dumbfounded.

I think back to last night. Did I say something to Lucy? Did I apologize to her? I was drunk, yes, but not drunk enough to not remember every single thing I did or said.