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Junie bent and stared into her eyes. “Nope. You’re hiding something!” she accused. Her crystal eyes widened, and she breathed, “You found out the sex of the baby.”
Willa shook her head. “No.” Then tilted it to the side. “Well, we have a sealed envelope from the ultrasound tech, but we haven’t opened it.”
Junie narrowed her eyes suspiciously as she unloaded her bag at her own desk. “Then what is it?”
Willa’s eyes flitted back and forth.
I laughed to myself as I watched her seek a believable lie.
“They’re thinking about having a gender reveal party, but she hasn’t been able to convince Daddy yet.”
Junie’s eyebrows shot up, and Willa looked like she was chewing on my lie.
She raised her eyes up to Junie’s excited face. “Do you think it’s a good idea?”
Junie pursed her rosebud mouth. “I want to say yes because I want to know, but I think it’s more exciting to wait.” Her face soured with her pronouncement eliciting another laugh out of Willa.
“Maybe you’re right.”
Junie turned away and Willa smiled at me. I winked in return.
Bus.
Safe travels.
The current bane of my existence was the city bus. Why my brain felt the need to point it out to me every time one passed, I could not say, but it did. Immediately afterwards I felt compelled to wish the inhabitants a safe trip. It was little enough. Like wishing someone a good morning. And I knew nothing bad would happen if I didn’t do it in much the same way as wishing them safe travels did nothing to guarantee it.
Still, it persisted.
Bus. Two in a row. Safe Travels.
I resisted the urge to say it twice.
Resist the urge, not the thought.
“Mint. You have got to come to our place on Sunday. We want to get the gang together before Mama here pops.”
“Sunday? I think I can make it. I’ll have to check with Ezzy to make sure she doesn’t need me.”
I knew she didn’t need me, just as I knew Junie would be suspicious if I agreed right away. I never agreed to go anywhere or do anything until I had the opportunity to assess all angles.
She continued her campaign to convince me.
“I already bought Veggie dogs and Veggie Italian sausage for you. And Lenny said he’ll cook them on his hibachi so no animal juices get on them.” She paused. “And you can bring a salad. I know you’re choosy about what you eat, but if you bring a salad, and we have veggie dogs and sausage, that would be good, right?”
I looked into her sweetly anxious face and my heart melted. I couldn’t even pretend.
“That sounds really good. I’ll do that. If I have time, I’ll bake cookies, too.” I shifted sideways to return to my desk, and she swatted me on the ass.
“You and your cookies,” she teased as she swung into her seat. “That’s why you got the booty, baby!”
Bus. Safe travels.
Two days later, I flew out the back door and skipped down the stairs on my way to Junie’s. I really didn’t want to be late. Walking in when everyone else had already settled opened me up to scrutiny I preferred to avoid.
Is the door locked?
I halted on the bottom step, my keys in hand, then spun to scoot back up the stairs. I yanked on the doorhandle and jerked it back and forth. Put my key in and twisted it back and forth, then checked again to ensure it was secure. Most definitely locked. I hit the bottom of the stairs and headed to my car.
