Page 48 (1/2)

"Sorry, sorry, sorry," she says When she bends down to kissthat smells a little bit like da?" Aunt Jackie grips Moht," Mo faintly

Aunt Jackie studies her face for a " Dad shakes out his napkin and presents his cheek to Aunt Jackie like he did tothe sound, and Dad carefully swipes his skin when she isn’t looking "Nick was just inforry at htly, as she sits down next to ht?"

Dad turns back to the waitress and motions that he wants another drink There’s already a whiskey--s on the paper tablecloth

"I--I don’t understand" Mon she’s had a bad day and had to double up on antianxiety ht To have a faht"

"Maybe what Nicklook--"is just that Dara’s not here yet It’s her birthday," she adds, when I open my mouth to protest "This is her favorite restaurant She’ll be here with us"

All at once, Moins to cry The transformation is sudden People always talk about how faces cruht before the tears start flowing, but otherwise she looks the same She doesn’t even try and cover her face, just sits there bawling like a little kid,in her nose

"Mom, please" I reach for her hand, which is cold Already people are turning to stare It’s been a long time since Mom has had a fit this bad in public

"It’s all my fault," she says "This was a terrible idea--stupid I thought going to Sergei’s would helpI thought it would be like old times But with just the three of us--"

"What am I, chopped tofu?" Aunt Jackie pipes up, but nobody s my spine, into my neck, down into my chest I should have known she would flake I should have known she would find a way to ruin this, too "This is all Dara’s fault," I say

"Nick," Aunt Jackie says quickly, as if I’ve cursed

"Don’t make this worse," Dad snaps He turns to Mom and puts a hand on her back, then ih he’s been burned "It’ll be okay, Sharon"