Kiki turned to my mom, “Is she losing it?”
“I think so,” my mother said.
“I’m right here,” I told them.
“She’s not losing it,” Milo chimed in. “She’s just being herself.”
“Listen to Milo. Don’t be sad for me. Lance and I are ending a shitty marriage amicably and respectably to give ourselves a chance at happiness. What’s wrong with that?”
The waiter popped the cork and poured three glasses. “A toast!” I said, holding up my glass. My mother and Kiki held up theirs as well, though they still looked stunned, and Milo raised his Coke. “To family, to respect, to accepting change, and to new beginnings!”
When we clinked our glasses, something hit me: a brief burst of sadness... and a longing for Gavin to be there.
ON THE WAYhome, I pulled over into a strip mall and turned toward Milo. “I’m getting my first tattoo, and I want you to come with me.”
35.One Hour Before the Lunch Heard ’Round the World
GAVIN
After fixing a little electrical problem in my dad’s house, I thanked the renters and referred them to the property management company who’d be handling the house while I was away.
I walked down to Penny’s place and Milo answered. Hugging him, I said, “Hey kid. Shouldn’t you be at school? Where’s your mom?”
“I think she forgot I have a half day at school today for teacher conferences. I have a pretty good idea of where she is, though.”
“Where’s that?”
“Has Mom ever told you about the old dance studio she used to go to when she was a kid?”
“Sure. But isn’t that a Subway now?”
“Yeah, but it’s going out of business.”
“Seriously? A Subway near a college is going out of business? Huh.” I shrugged. “Is she eating lunch there?”
“She said she was gonna go check it out, but I think she just goes down there and sits on the bench outside.”
I’d never heard of Penny doing this. “What? Why?”
“I don’t know. I think it’s nostalgic for her or something.”
“Is your dad here?”
“My dad?” Milo looked at me strangely.
“Yeah, your dad.”
“No, he’s not here. Um, I don’t mean to be rude but I have a shit-ton of homework to do and then I’m going to stay at my friend’s house tonight. Do you want me to tell Mom you stopped by?”
“Hey, wait a sec. I’m glad I ran into you, Milo, because I have some big news. I’m leaving for a bit. In fact... I’m going to France.”
He blinked for several seconds, his expression blank. “Why?” he asked.
“My girlfriend, Briel, is from there. She’s going back home... and I’m going with her.”
“Oh... that’s great, G. Does Mom know?”
“No, I need to tell her. That’s why I came by. Do you really think she’s down at the Subway?”
