“Okay. Lay it on me,” I say, taking a bite of my turkey club.
“I can’t go to Scotland.”
I drop my sandwich onto my plate. Mai and I have been planning this trip since high school. It’s been over a decade of dreaming, planning, and saving. And what? She suddenly can’t go?
“Umm … what?” I feel like the floor has fallen out from underneath me. First my job, and now this?
“You know I want to make partner in my firm, and we suddenly have some really major cases. My boss said he can’t spare me. He said that it’s my choice, because he had approved my time off, but he strongly encouraged me to stay. And”—she sighs—“Makenna, I really want to make partner.”
“Why is this happening?” I hold back tears. Since losing my job, this is what I’ve been holding onto. Now, poof, it’s gone too.
She sighs again. “I’m so sorry.”
“I think I’m sadder about this than I was about losing my job.”
Mai huffs a little laugh. “Those fools didn’t deserve you, anyway. We’ll figure it out.” She reaches across the table and squeezes my hand.
I love having her on my team.
“Can we cancel everything?”
“There’s nothing we can do about our flights, but I looked into it and we can cancel our lodging, apart from the first place.”
So I’m out the flight money and half of our first booking. I wonder how cheaply I could stay if I went alone. Am I brave enough to go alone? I think so.
“I see your wheels spinning.”
I stare at her a moment, still considering my options. “I think I’m gonna go.”
Mai stares. “You want to go alone?” Her tone was the same as it would have been if I’d said I was headed to Mars, never to return.
“I think I might. We can cancel our other lodgings. I’ll figure out something cheaper.” I take a sip of my sweet tea, mind whirring.
“You’re serious? Do you think it’s safe?”
“It’s not like I’m going to a place known for crime. It’s probably safer than Atlanta. And I’ve never run into any trouble in all the hundreds of times I’ve gone into the city, so imagine how safe I’d be in Inverness.”
“I’m not sure—”
“Also, I got my green belt in karate.”
Mai sets her fork down on her plate. “I know. I was there.”She crosses her arms as if preparing for battle. “We were in sixth grade.”
“I’m sure it’s like riding a bicycle.”
She pulls out her phone.
“Who are you calling?”
“Your mother.” She brings the phone to her ear.
She knows if my mom’s against it, I won’t go. My whole life, it’s been just me and my mom. We lived together until last year. And we’ve become friends now that I’m an adult.
“Hey, Ms. Fore.”
Silence.
“I’m alright. Though, I just told Makenna some bad news. I’m not going to be able to go to Scotland.”
