“Yeah. I matter to six people. And none of them are my parents. Not sure what that says about me.”
“It says you don’t understand how many people care about you.”
He guessed she was counting Meredith, Cal, and of course him in that number, but who were the other three? His parents maybe. And his grandparents. And Cal’s parents. See. He’d come up with more than six without even trying.
“They’re sending me to a camp this summer,” she said suddenly.
“What? No!”
Her eyes glistened. “I don’t want to talk about it now. Later?”
He nodded. “After school. How are you getting home?”
She shrugged.
“Come home with me. We’ll go for a hike.”
She looked down at herself. Her clothes were too nice for hiking.
“You can wear some of Meredith’s stuff.”
“We aren’t the same size, Mo.”
“We’ll figure it out. Say yes?”
It took her longer to reply than he would have liked, but she said, “Sure. Why not. It’s better than going home.”
“Great.” He paused at the door to her first class. “Bronwyn?”
“Yeah?”
“I really am sorry.”
“I know. Thanks.”
Mo walked four doors down to his next class. He liked school. But today, all he wanted to do was escape and get into the forest. Bronwyn was sad, and he wanted to show her something that would make her happy. He wouldn’t be inviting Meredith or Cal.Not that either of them could come, anyway. Cal had work and Meredith had play practice. But even if they could, he didn’t want them there. Not today.
The school day dragged worse than ever before. When the final bell rang, Mo met Bronwyn in the carpool line. When his mom paused at the curb, he opened the door, and Bronwyn climbed in first. “Hey, Mrs. Quinn.”
“Bronwyn, hello! How are you?”
“I’m fine. You?”
“Lovely.” She turned her attention to Mo, and he understood the question in her gaze.
“I want to take Bronwyn hiking this afternoon. Can you take her home when you pick up Meredith from practice?”
“Of course, but does she have permission?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Bronwyn piped up. “I called home at lunch. My parents won’t be home this afternoon, anyway. They don’t care. Mother said I should be home by nine. She has one of the staff ready to sit with me.”
Mo’s mom’s face pinched, but her words were welcoming. “Then that works out beautifully. I’m coming back to pick Meredith up around eight thirty. We’ll grab her and run you home.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Quinn.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart.”
They rode the rest of the way in silence, and as soon as they were home, Mo dashed inside, found clothes for Bronwyn, changed his own clothes, and met his mom in the kitchen.
