The Friendship List(53)

“All evidence to the contrary.” Dagmar waved at the building. “It was an open house and yet here you are, acting like I’ve just sold you into sexual slavery. You need to get over yourself.”

“Are you mad at me?”

Dagmar sighed. “No. Disappointed.”

Unity stiffened. “Then I should probably take you home.”

“Yes, you probably should.”

  After a morning of rides and more rides, Ellen and Lissa decided to escape from the guys and get in a little shopping time. Main Street in Disneyland had dozens of stores filled with fun items they discovered they could not live without.

Ellen fingered an Elsa dress. “Why don’t they make these in adult sizes?” she asked. “I could so rock an Elsa dress.”

Lissa’s eyes widened. “Where? You know you couldn’t wear that at school.”

Ellen thought about the looks on her students’ faces if she waltzed into class wearing an Elsa dress. Impossible, but so fun to think about.

“It would change the classroom dynamic,” she said with a laugh.

“You’d hear from the parents for sure.”

Ellen picked up a tiara. “I can’t help it. I love all things Frozen.”

Lissa showed her a stuffed Sven. “How about this instead?”

The friendly reindeer doll was smiling. And pricey, but she’d yet to buy anything for herself. “I’m tempted,” she admitted, as her phone buzzed.

She pulled it out of her pocket and saw she had a text from Jeremy. Ugh, she thought, opening it. But maybe he would give her a little insight into his lunch with Coop yesterday. All her son had told her was he’d had a good time and that his dad was a really cool guy.

Thanks again for letting me have lunch with Cooper yesterday. He’s such a great kid. You must be so proud of him. You did a wonderful job, Ellen. I want to tell you I have regrets, but I gave up that right a long time ago.
Yes, you did, she thought, watching the three dots that indicated he was typing again.

I appreciate you being willing to let him come stay with me later this summer. He and I talked about a week, but maybe we can make it two. I told Lucy and the girls about him last night and they’re all excited. Let’s firm up the details when you two get back to Willowbrook.
Ellen stared at the words, reading them a second, then a third time. What was he talking about? There was no visit planned. She hadn’t agreed to any visit and Coop hadn’t said a word.

But Jeremy and Coop had talked about it, she thought, fighting the hurt growing inside of her. Coop obviously wanted to spend more time with his father—something she might not like but could understand. What she didn’t get was the fact that he hadn’t said anything to her.

“You okay?” Lissa asked, studying her.

Ellen shoved her phone into her pocket. “I’m fine. Everything is great.” She hoped she was lying convincingly. She didn’t want to get into any of this with Lissa. “Aren’t we supposed to meet the guys by Star Tours? We should get going.”

Lissa hesitated before nodding slowly. Ellen returned stuffed Sven to the shelf, then hurried out of the store.

They made quick time to the meeting place. The guys were all there, looking tired and happy. Keith spotted her and waved.

“Ready for round two?” he asked.

Her throat was tight and her chest ached. She glanced at her son, but Coop was talking to his friends and didn’t even look at her.

Why hadn’t he told her about the invitation? What else had he and Jeremy talked about that he was keeping from her?

“Ellen?”

She looked at Keith and faked a smile. “You go ahead. I’ll wait here.”

His dark gaze searched her face, then he turned to the group. “Everyone go on the ride, then meet back here. We’ll discuss the rest of the afternoon and evening. We need to be on the road by eight tomorrow morning to get to Santa Barbara before eleven.”

“Sure, Coach,” Luka said. “Come on, Lissa. You can sit with me this time.”

They all rushed to get in line for the ride. Ellen motioned toward them. “You should go with them.”

“You should tell me what happened.”

She shook her head and looked away. “I can’t. I’m going to cry and you don’t want to be a part of that.” She held up a hand. “I’m fine. Everything’s fine.”

“It’s not fine if you’re about to cry. Come on, Ellen. You can tell me anything.”

She thought maybe that might be true. Keith was her friend and he’d always been there for her. He’d rescued her when she’d had a flat tire, even though it had been seven on a Saturday morning and he’d been asleep when she’d called. He’d finished the job in what felt like minutes, all the while teasing her about her lack of car knowledge, then he’d bought her breakfast.

He’d been the one she’d texted with a frantic plea because her period had started early and with gusto, leaving her unable to get up from her seat in her classroom. He’d taken her class to the gym, giving her the chance to duck out and head home to change clothes.

No matter the problem, he was her rock, she thought, swallowing against the thickness in her throat before stepping into his open arms and letting the tears flow.

“Coop had lunch with his dad yesterday,” she said between sobs.