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“Convenient you hadn’t mentioned he’d be up here,” I snapped. “Look, sorry. I’m stressed. I’ll figure this out.”
“Call me with an update. Sorry, honey.”
I knew she felt bad. This obviously wasn’t her fault and besides, she lived several hours away downstate. What could she even do?
There had to be a hotel option. It wouldn’t be the same as a house on the lake, but we’d make it work. Once Belinda returned from her trip, I’d work out the refund on my rental deposit.
Mr. Swim Trunks approached. Ugh. “Vinny, I don’t have the patience for this—”
“Aye, I’m Vincent. Going by Vinny would be overly stereotypical for someone of Italian descent. Nice to meet you and sorry for the trouble. Faygo?”
The cold can of Faygo pop, a Michigan classic, was enticing, but my frustration clouded my ability to think clearly. “No thank you. I’m Jillian, and I’m leaving.”
I made it to my car. Now secure inside with newly acquired hot, stale air, I texted Noah and Marcy we had a hitch in our plans, but that I was currently working on plan B with a hotel.
As I pulled up a travel site, a text came through.
Noah: Hey girl! My flight is delayed. Did you know there’s a freak tornado in St. Louis?
Me: What are you doing in St. Louis?
Noah: Connecting flight from Texas. Work trip, remember?
I shook my head, thinking through the past few weeks. I’d been so focused on securing my post-grad job, the details of my friends’ lives came secondary. And okay, truth, a foggy brain resulting from my recent break-up with STEM Stu. Two years together with Stu and our future plans were wiped out immediately after graduation. Amazing how one ceremony gave him complete clarity on a career overseas. With his new mentor, a hot immunologist. Her analytical cytokine skills complemented his own research interests, which was just what Stu needed in a collaborator.
Lucky him. And more reasons why I needed this weekend. I needed real friends. Real support.
Noah: Looks like the soonest I can get into Detroit is tomorrow morning. The weather is pretty dicey. Once I land, I’ll stop by home and drive up north.
Her delay at least gave me time to find us a new place. Marcy and I could do a hotel night and then maybe find a last-minute rental.
Me: Be safe! Text me updates.
My phone buzzed. Marcy.
“Hey!” I answered. “No worries about my text. I’m looking at hotel reservations now.”
“Jillian.” Her serious tone made my heart sink before I even heard her next words. “Something terrible happened. My papá…he had a heart attack.”
“Oh my goodness. I’m so sorry. Is he in the hospital?”
“Emergency surgery. I just got the call. I’ve been sitting here, numb.”
My eyes fell shut. I pushed away the outside noise, my racing thoughts, and let Marcy’s words settle. “You should be with your family,” I found myself saying.
“I can probably drive up tomorrow.”
If my own father faced emergency surgery, I’d be there, right by his side with my mom and brother Josh, as soon as surgery let out. Marcy was incredibly close with her family. How could she could make any other decision? “It’s probably best you stay. Besides, everyone but Noah canceled for the weekend and she’s currently grounded at the airport in St. Louis.”
“Oh no! St. Louis had a freak tornado, did you hear? The damage is bad down there.”
I couldn’t fault either of them for factors outside of their control. “I guess I have to admit this girls’ weekend isn’t happening.”
“We’ll reschedule, I promise.”
Guilt hit at her efforts to soothe me, given what she faced with her dad. “Don’t worry about it.”
“You were right that we need this,” she said. “I miss you all. I’ve been working too much. I’ve hardly seen my parents or anybody.”
