Finally:
“Claire?”
“Yes?”
“Where’s the barbecue?”
I smiled.
“Oh, I didn’t buy any meat.”
Her face changed.
“What?”
“I figured since everyone loves our barbecue so much, you’d want to bring whatever you wanted grilled.”
Sarah’s mouth fell open.
Kate stared at me.
I continued cheerfully.
“There’s a great butcher about fifteen minutes away in Bellmere.”
Nobody spoke.
“They’re open until six.”
Still nothing.
“The grill is already cleaned.”
I pointed toward it.
“Charcoal is in the shed.”
Then I smiled.
“So you’ve got plenty of time.”
MARLENE COULDN’T BELIEVE IT
“But…”
She looked around.
“You invited us!”
“No.”
I took a sip of tea.
“You invited yourselves.”
Marlene stared at me.
I added:
“But don’t worry. There are plenty of sandwiches.”
Right on cue, the children began protesting.
“Where are the hot dogs?” Tyler demanded.
“I want hamburgers!” Madison cried.
