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My mouth suddenly tasted sour How could she not re had been her idea? Back before e was still alive, she was the one who had suggested I ask hiift She had known then how much he hated B

illings, and she’d still tried to pressure me to do it anyway But now that the Easton Board of Directors had granted e cash donation to the school, of course—it was like she’d forgotten all about her initial involvement

But I couldn’t re froret I knew that she was just trying to honor her dad’s wishes now that he was gone I got that I did I just wished it could be different I wished I could find a way to win her over Because rebuilding Billings without her support just feltwrong

“Well, I think that he would understand,” I said, turning to gaze out across the upturned earth I saw my construction chief, Larry Genovese, shake hands with another burly ht this tis to be a place we can all be proud of There’s going to be an actual application process now I’irls are admitted based on their merits, like GPA, school involvement, community service—”

Noelle scoffed, but I wasn’t sure if she was laughing at s, or if she was annoyed that I was dissing the old ways

“And I’ll be raduate,” I said, looking at Josh “It won’t be a bunch of girls talking behind each other’s backs, accepting people based on catty, shallow criteria like as the first to snag the latest li”

“Oh, so now you’re qualified to decide what it takes to be a Billings Girl?” Noelle said snarkily

My face burned I was about to reply whenThe caller ID read “Janice Winthrop” One of Billings’s wealthiest alu ceremony and had RSVP’d yes to both the cocktail hour at Mitchell Hall Saturday night and the brunch in town on Sundayshe wasn’t calling to cancel I was counting on both her financial andThis was one call I could not ignore

“Hang on a sec, you guys” I brought the phone to my ear “Hello, this is Reed,” I said in my most professional voice

“Reed, hi! Janice Winthrop here I’ain, but I just called the Driscoll to confirm my reservation, and they have me in a business suite rather than the royal suite, and they swear someone else has booked it I’d have raines at just the worst moments”

I somehow felt both relieved and even tenser, all at the saistics I could deal with “I’ll call theht away, Ms Winthrop,” I promised “I’ll have it all worked out before you arrive”

“Good Thank you, Reed I’ all my old friends!” Ms Winthrop said “Our reunions always take place on the week of s, so I can never ether like this!”

I pressedhow sheput on for her benefit But all I said was, “It’syou, too”

“All right, then See you on Saturday!”

There was a click and the line went dead I looked down at the phone and noticed that I also had twenty-five new texts and thirty new e-roar, and I told myself to relax I could answer all their questions and concerns later Right now, Janice Winthrop was the pressing issue

I was about to speed-dial the Driscoll Hotel, when a puffy cloud moved in front of the sun, and an awful chill went downstill as stone, I scanned the ca moved in the corner of my eye I turned quickly, just in time to see a shock of blond hair as it disappeared around the corner of the library My hands went clammy My heart was in my throat

“Who was that?” Noelle asked from behind