“Hannah says your parents are almost here. Claire? Can you get everyone gathered? Let’s drop the lights.”
We all gather close to the entry.
We can hear Graham’s mom saying, “I know I let all the kale die last year, but this time I really think we can manage a garden, and—”
She screams and grabs Frank as we all shout, “Surprise! Happy anniversary!”
Aurora immediately bursts into tears and buries her face against Frank. Her parents rush over to her as she sobs.
Graham looks crushed.
“Shit,” Ryan mutters. “This is not what I thought would happen.”
“You see?” someone yells at Graham. “Told you he shouldn’t have been here.”
38
GRAHAM
Iknew it. I knew this was a bad idea.
Everyone at the party is staring at me—staring at me like I’m the one who made my mother cry.
And I guess I did.
I never should have let this party go on.
Of course my younger siblings wouldn’t know—wouldn’t know what kind of memories this anniversary party would bring up. They’ve only known my mom as this fun-loving, fast-talking cool mom who all their friends loved and wished were their own mom.
They don’t remember her when she was so depressed and despondent that she’d just lie on the floor, not moving.
If Grayson and Aaron had known about this party, they would have told me to kill it immediately with extreme prejudice.
“I have to go,” I tell a horrified Dani. “I’ll… I guess I’ll find you later.”
“Kid. Kid.Graham—”
Mom’s voice stops me.
“Sorry,” my mom says. “Sorry, I just…” She fans herself. “This was just… This was a surprise.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell her automatically.
“No, no! This is a good surprise! This is great. I’m smiling!” She’s crying.
The guests are tense. Her parents crowd between me and her protectively.
I want to die.
“Mom, stop!” Aurora pushes her parents away. “Oh my fucking god. Sorry—I just… wow. No one’s ever thrown me a surprise party before. For anything. Ever! I can’t believe you put this together for me.”
I watch as Mom hugs her worried children. I heard what Frank’s sister said. Those are her real kids. Not me. I really shouldn’t have been here.
“Graham helped too!” Max’s voice is muffled.
“Graham!” Mom looks up at me, joy written on her face. “You guys all planned this together. All my babies!”
She smushes me into the huddle with my half-siblings.
