Confusion.
Interesting word.
I didn’t respond.
The kids and I spent Saturday afternoon racing down water slides.
We ate terrible pizza.
Lily convinced me to ride a tube slide I absolutely did not want to ride.
Noah laughed so hard at my scream that he nearly fell over afterward.
That night, the three of us watched a movie in bed.
Halfway through, my phone buzzed again.
This time it was Mom.
Her voicemail lasted forty-six seconds.
“Claire, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but the lodge says our reservation was canceled.
The catering company says the same thing.
Call me immediately.
Everyone is expecting this trip.”
I listened once.
Then deleted it.
Noah had noticed.
“Grandma?”
“Yes.”
“Are you in trouble?”
I smiled.
“No.”
That answer felt strange.
