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“No. No.” I shake my head, though she can’t see me through this call. “I’m not going, but that’s what I told him. He and his girl of the month cannot have those tickets.” I pump my fist—also lost on Autumn, who still can’t see me. But I am sticking it to the man! Go Meg. “And before you lecture me—it’s been four months. I am over him. I am semi-appalled I was ever with him, but that’s beside the point.”
“Why not go, Meg? Just do it. Go.”
I stop mid-pace. “Go where? What are you talking about?” Is she even listening to me?
“What are you talking about?” Autumn sighs, though it turns into a throaty, growly groan in a matter of seconds. “I’m switching to FaceTime,” she says. “Turn your camera on. I need to see you for this.”
I pull back my cell and stare at the screen, hitting the little camera and seeing Autumn’s brown eyes and bun come into view. She’s glaring at me. As if I’m the one who did something wrong. Kyle’s the nitwit who asked if he could take his girlfriend on a trip I purchased and we planned together.
At the time we planned it, I know now that he was seeing her as well as me. Maybe this was his plan all along. Get gullible Meg to pay for their vacation.
“Why aren’t your bags packed yet?”
“I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about,” I say. But a teeny tiny part of me does. Invisible Meg likes living in denial at times.
Hawaii. I could go. I have the tickets; the room is booked. The beach doesn’t close—at least I don’t think it does.
Only… I can’t. I’ve never done anything so impulsive in my entire life. I tried to give the tickets to Mom and Dad. But they’ve got their own trip planned. I tried to sell them to my dentist. Then again to my gynecologist. I finally decided I was going to have to eat my non-refundable tickets.
Because how could I go? How could I go on a trip that I planned with a man I’m no longer seeing? Not to mention, there’s that fence that needs some paint and the garden that I’m planting, as well as my curriculum map meetings—but then, that isn’t until July. Besides all that, going to Hawaii, alone, just isn’t me. I’d never do that.
Maybe it’s completely selfish and egotistical of me to not give the trip to Kyle, or at least I could offer to let him purchase the tickets. They’d get used, and I wouldn’t be out thousands of dollars.
My mind wanders to Brooke, my old college roommate. She did something I’d never thought I’d see—she ended up on her honeymoon alone.
“Earth to Meg.” Autumn waves a hand in front of the screen as if it were my face. “What are you doing tonight?”
“Giving Chuck a funeral. I thought you could come—if not in person, through FaceTime.”
“Nuh-uh.” She shuts her eyes and shakes her head. “You aren’t doing that.” Autumn opens up her big brown eyes. “Look at me, Meg. When does the plane take off?”
I swallow—just the word plane could give me hives. “Two days.”
“Perfect. Plenty of time to pack.”
“Autumn’s crazy. A new hamster? Will the kids even buy that?” I chew on my bottom lip and stare at my mother and sister through my phone screen.
Home is only two hours away. I see my family, but with busy schedules, it’s mostly over FaceTime. Bonnie’s working in Billings, and Mom and Dad are thoroughly enjoying retirement.
“Wait—back up. Forget the hamster,” Bonnie says. “Hawaii? Are you considering going?”
“No!” I say screwing up my face in a way I never ever should. Why does FaceTime insist on showing me to me, as well as who I’m talking to?
“Of course she isn’t. This is Meg we’re talking about,” Mom says with a light laugh. Her tone tells me she’s just trying to back me up. Somehow, I don’t feel all that supported. In fact, I am slightly offended.
“What do you mean, this is Meg?” I say.
“Honey,” Mom says, kneading dough in the top left square of my phone. “We all know you will not go, sweetheart. So, why waste time and energy thinking about it? Just move on. That’s what I say.” She gives me an encouraging nod…and yet, I do not feel encouraged.
Bonnie—in the top right—scoffs.
I have zero plans to go anywhere, so I’m not sure why, but I greatly appreciate that scoff.
“Sweetheart, plant your garden,” Mom says, her tone overly delighted about dirt and seeds.
Wait, wasn’t I super excited about dirt and seeds five minutes ago?
She’s not finished though. “You’ve been talking about that garden for months. And paint that chair. What a fun project! I think a new hamster is a great idea. You’ll have new kids starting in September. They won’t know. You could even vote on a new name and make another one of those beautiful charts. I know that thing took you quite a long time, but it was worth it.”
