“What are you making?” Josie paused in Willow’s kitchen.
“Caprese skewers,” Willow said. “Just grape tomatoes, fresh basil, and a chunk of fresh mozzarella. You layer them like this on a skewer and—”
“Great.” Josie reached for a handful of the skewers that Willow had just made. “Garth loves caprese salad.”
“Would you like to help make some?” Willow asked.
“No, you look like you have it under control.” Josie opened the fridge. “Mind if I grab a couple of sodas to go with this?”
“No. Maybe you’d like to load some into the cooler by the door and take it out to the terrace with you.”
“That’s okay. This will be fine for now.”
“I meant for the party,” Willow said a bit tersely.
“But that’s not until after graduation. Why bother with it now?”
“Because we’ll be leaving for the ceremony in about twenty minutes,” Willow explained. “I’d hoped to have things mostly set up and ready for when we get home.”
“It’s not like you’re having a lot of people here.” Josie was still foraging in the fridge. Apparently the pizza that Willow had ordered for them an hour ago hadn’t cut it. Willow bit her tongue as she watched Josie helping herself from the appetizer trays that Willow had carefully put together earlier. “You told me it’s gonna be like a dozen people. Looks like you’re going to way too much trouble.”
“I’m doing this for Collin,” Willow said. “He’s workedso hard in school. He never even complained about moving up here last year. And he’s taken lots of AP classes and maintained an outstanding GPA. I just want to celebrate that—”
“Oh, I get it.” Josie slammed the fridge door closed. “Like,hint-hint,Josie. You were such an academic flop. Such a disappointment.”
“I’veneversaid that.” Willow set her knife down with a bang. “Not once.”
“You don’t have to, Mom. It’s written all over your face. You think I’m a loser. Admit it.”
“I’m sorry if that’s your perception, Josie. I, of all people, am aware of the challenges you’ve faced. Your life hasn’t been easy. And I take the blame for some of that and want you to know that—”
“You should take the blame!” Josie grabbed a bag of unopened chips then stormed back out to the terrace where Garth was waiting.
Willow blew out a long sigh. All she wanted to know right now was, how long did they plan to stay? So far Josie had barely said anything to her son. Although to be fair, Collin had kept a very low profile on the home front. After senior skip day ended, he’d texted Willow that he was taking a long nap. Then, just a few minutes ago, he’d sent another text, informing her he was walking to school for the pre-graduation meeting. But his message was clear—he wanted to avoid his mother.
It was equally clear that Josie was not here to support her son. Worse than that, it almost felt like she wanted to sabotage this evening’s festivities. Or maybe Willow was just imagining things. It was no secret that Josie came with baggage... and Willow was well aware thathurt people hurt people. But she hoped and prayed that Josie wouldn’t hurt Collin tonight of all nights.
Willow thought back to the conversation she’d had with Garth earlier. Unlike Josie, who’d slept in until noon, Garth had actually joined Willow on the terrace for coffee rather early this morning. They hadn’t talked of anything terribly specific or important, but Willow got the feeling that Garth had a good sense of empathy. She also got the impression that he was losing patience with Josie too. Perhaps he could help to keep Josie in line this evening. As if that were possible. Willow checked the clock to see that it would soon be time to head over to the school. She was already dressed in a long paisley broomstick skirt and a lacy peasant top. Of course, this had invited Josie’s criticism. “Still dressing like a boho gypsy?” she’d teased. “I thought you were too old for that.”
Willow set the last of the appetizers in the fridge, removed her apron, and, with trash bag in hand, went out to do some last-minute damage control on the terrace. “Are you guys about ready to go?” Willow paused as she emptied the ashtray.
“Isn’t it too soon?” Josie asked.
“I’d like a good seat.” Willow picked up the crushed pizza box and several empty beer cans from the six-pack that Josie had brought in earlier. “I’d like to leave in about ten minutes, honey. In case you need time to freshen up or anything.” Thiswasa real hint, since Josie was still wearing the same grubby jeans and stained rocker T-shirt that she’d had on yesterday. Her long, dark hair looked greasy and matted and she had smudges of eyeliner beneath her eyes. Not that Willowplanned to mention any of this. She was determined to avoid confrontation—at all cost.
Garth finished the last of his soda, handing the can over to Willow. “I think I’m gonna take a pass on the graduation thing. I don’t really know Collin and—”
“If I’m going, you’re going,” Josie shouted at him.
“Why?” He frowned at her. “He’s your son.”
“That’s why we came here, Garth, to go to my son’s graduation.”
“That’s not why I came here,” he declared.
“I’ll let you two sort this out,” Willow said nervously. “I want to freshen up a little, and then I plan to head out. If you don’t go with me, maybe we can meet up there.” She could hear them arguing as she hurried back inside. Normally, Willow didn’t like to bother God with every little thing, but as she brushed her teeth, applied a bit of coral lipstick, and rubbed some lavender lotion into her hands and elbows, she silently prayed for God’s grace over tonight’s celebrations. They would certainly need it.
George felt uncomfortable and conspicuous as he walked through town in his “Saturday chores” uniform of a short-sleeved light-blue shirt and khaki pants. Oh, everything was perfectly clean and pressed, but it wasn’t what he’d normally wear to a social gathering. Not that he’d attended many, for certain. Not outside of school functions anyway. But he wanted to respect Willow’s request for “casual attire.” Also, he didn’t want to be the victim of “foolish consistency” of his own “little mind.” He was still struggling over that Ralph Emerson quote.
