“I’m wiped out. Would you mind bringing Mia to the celebration? I’ll catch up with you guys after I sleep for like a half hour. Would that work?”
“Ummmm …” Avery stalls. “I think it’s best if you bring her.”
“Why? Aren’t you going?”
“I am. Of course. But it’s her championship celebration. She wants you there.”
I look at Mia. She’s got her hands on her hips and her expression has morphed into what I call her thinking face.
“How do you know she wants me there?” I ask Avery. “And I will be there. Just a half hour later.”
“I just figured … It’s her championship.”
“Maybe Mom will take her,” I say. “I’ll see you there in a bit.”
“Hallie!” Avery’s voice carries through the phone, but I’m already clicking the call off so I can call Mom.
I pause. Maybe Avery’s right. Mia’s still looking at me with a furrowed brow and her eyes narrowed like she’s trying to solve a problem.
“Mia?” I say softly.
“Yes, Mommy?”
“Would you be sad if I took a nap first?”
“Not sad. It’s just …” Her brows draw in even further.
“Your friends will be there,” I remind her.
“I know.” Her face fully scrunches inward. “It’s just really important for you to be there this time.”
“You’ve been to Mo’s,” I say, but the fight is leaving me. Mia seems to really need me to go, for whatever reason, so I may as well give up the idea of getting a nap in.
The front door opens and Mom barges in. “There you are! What’s this talk of a nap?”
“Why is everyone acting so weird?” I say.
“Weird?” Mom asks.
Mia’s eyes go wide and she looks up at my mom. Mom’s brows draw in and she gives a slight shake of her head to Mia. Weird. Definitely weird.
“Yes. Weird. I’m tired. I want to just grab thirty minutes of sleep and catch up with you. All three of you are acting strange.”
“We’re not acting strange,” Mia says. “Are we, Nana?”
“No. We are not.”
I point between the two of them. “See. That. That was strange.”
“Get in the car, Hallie,” Mom says. “Jonathan’s out there waiting.”
“In your car?”
“Yes. My car.”
“What about my van?”
“We’re going to drive you and Mia.” She looks me over. “But brush your hair first. And … maybe wipe under your eyes. Your mascara smudged a little.”
