Page 22 (1/2)

"For her pity parties, Mom likes popcorn best The more butter the better," she said matter-of-factly "We had several of them after Dad died But Mom didn’t call them pity parties"

"What did she call the sad"

"Alith buttered popcorn?"

"It goes good with tea," Jazmine said "I don’t think she had a na in front of the TV, and she said sad movies always made her cry Then I asked her why she watched them"

Shana already knew the answer to that "Because she needed a good cry"

Jazirl sighed heavily, then added in a small voice, "I don’t want her to be sad"

"Me, neither, but it’s part of life, Jazz It’s not good to be too sad or for too long, but being sad has its place For one thing, sadness makes happiness that htfully, awareness dawning in her eyes

"Now, it’s been a while since I had an official pity party," Shana said briskly "One is long overdue" She’d made a couple of weak attery with hi, their breakup had left her feeling strong and decisive That high hadn’t lasted, and she’d found it emotionally difficult to reconcile herself to the end of the relationship--but only for a short tiement--or whatever it ith Brad did call for a party, but a real party with banners and food, chane and music and lots of people She smiled as she considered how far she’d come

"What’s so funny?" Jazmine asked

Shana instantly sobered "Reo, when you said I had issues?"

"Yeah"

"One of those issues was Brad"

Jazhed out loud "I was just thinking I never really had a pity party over him"

Jazmine cocked her head quizzically "Do women always throw these parties because of ht "Yes," she said firured" Jaz was beyond her

They loaded up with chocolate-ood measure, and headed out the door Shana had to make a quick stop at the bank, but they were home before the ice cream had a chance toon their backs, dressed in old flannel paja

"Reo?" Jazmine asked

"Yup" Shana didn’t want to dwell on Brad She wanted to think about Ada to miss him Brad paled in comparison to Adam Kennedy

"Why did he call?"

Shana rolled onto her stomach and raised her head "He realized the error of his ways"

Jaz to take him back?"

Shana didn’t even need to think about it "No"

Jazreed "He had his turn"

Boy, did he!

"Uncle Adam is next in line"

It occurred to Shana to explain that pity parties were usually wakes for relationships This as for Ada her best to accept the likely end of their brief romance and move forward

"What if Brad came to Seattle?" Jazmine asked excitedly, as if that were a distinct possibility "What would you do then?"

Shana flopped onto her back again "Nothing"

"Not a thing?"

"Not a single, solitary thing"

"What if he offered you an engagerinned "First, I’d faint from the shock of it, and then I’d…I’d ask to see his ID Make sure this was really Brad"

"Would you cry?"

"I doubt it"