“Poor thing! I hope it isn’t—” But Anne had gone into the bathroom, the door shutting behind her. To me she added, “Hopefully, it’s not serious.”
She went to refill her cup. When my mom pushed her own forward, she frowned. “Now, Cat. What would Nurse Geralin say?”
My mom rolled her eyes. “That I’m your big sister. Either pour it or I will.”
Liz hooted, obeying, although I noticed she still only gave my mom a small bit. Meanwhile, Prince continued to sing about doves.
I sat down next to my mom. But I was very aware of Ben as he moved behind me to go around the table to a chair on the other side. Like I could not ignore the feeling of connection between us, even—especially—when it was unseen to everyone else.
In the end, Sudden Constellation had managed to play for the full hour. Although it did involve repeating a couple of songs and some unfortunate patter from Hector about the meaning behind the band’s name. (The fact that stars can be ancient or newly created is a parallel to our lives and their events, forever changing.Whatever that meant.) Because it was that time of day when people were moving from the beach or pool back to the hotel, though, I was pretty sure Anne and I were the only ones who saw the entire thing.
“Lord,” Liz said now, drumming her fingers on the table along with the music. “Now, don’t tell Trav I was drinking. But I think this is what I needed.”
“Just don’t do more than one,” my mom observed. “You know how you get.”
“What? How do I get?”
“Loud,” my mom said. “Then weepy.”
“What? No. This is good! It’s like old times, us together!” Liz exclaimed. She was talking at a high volume. “Next you’ll give everyone bad haircuts.”
“Don’t tempt me,” my mom said.
The door sounded again and Kasey came in, carrying a paper bag. Lana was behind her. “All I had at the cabin was some champagne and two wine coolers,” she reported, plunking it down on the table. “Also a bottle of brandy that looked older than all of us, which I left.”
“Champagne!” Liz clapped her hands. “To celebrate the sale. Or is it bad luck to do it already?”
“Nope,” Kasey told her, taking out the bottle as Anne returned from the bathroom, taking a seat behind the dollhouse. “All that’s left is signing for the notary.”
I watched as she pulled off the foil, then the metal covering the cork, before grabbing a nearby napkin and wrapping the bottle neck in it. Then, through the napkin, she wiggled the cork, slowly, until it came out with apop!My mom nodded with admiration.
“Nice,” she said.
“Those years bartending were good for something,” Kasey replied. “Lana, grab some more cups.”
Lana went in the kitchen. When she returned, handing them over, Kasey said, “What do you think, Cat? Give the kids a glass?”
My mom gave me a bemused look. “You want some, Finley?”
The last time I’d had champagne was graduation night, with Colin. Now not my best memory. But this could be a new one. Hope to cope.
“Sure,” I said.
“Smallpour,” my mom said to Kasey, while Liz handed analready half-full glass to Lana, then Ben. Accordingly, I ended up with about a single swallow. Which was honestly as much as I wanted.
“Should we toast?” Liz asked as she pushed a cup to Anne, who ignored it. “Who wants to do the honors?”
We waited. Nobody said anything. Finally, Liz took a breath. “To Mom and the Judge, and Grandpa and Grandmother before them,” she began. “Thanks for…”
With that, she got quiet, tears filling her eyes.
“To the Tides,” my mom said, “for—”
Liz sniffled. Now she was all-out crying.
Kasey cleared her throat. “To change.”
She held out her cup. Liz, still sniffly, did the same. Then my mom. Lana, Ben, and I, for proximity’s sake, did our own. Cheers.
