Page 73 of The Last Dance

19

Mandarin Sunblaze

Ambri

The knock on my front door forces me to get out of bed much earlier than I intended to. This is my first official day unemployed. I glance at the clock hanging on the wall in my living room as I walk past it, dodging boxes along the way. Eleven-thirty in the morning. I never sleep in until half past eleven. I pull the door open. A huge vase of orange roses stands before me.

‘Delivery for Ambri Jennings…’

‘Wow.’ I take the flowers being handed over to me. ‘Thank you.’ I carry them through my living room to the kitchen, setting them on the counter and pulling off the card that’s taped to the vase.

‘“You are what we all should be. I know you’ll be great at whatever you choose to do next.”’ I read it aloud, turning the card over when I see that no name is signed.

Who doesn’t sign a card when they send flowers? It had to be Noah. He’s the only one that sends me flowers. He’s at work today so I bet he got a call and forgot to add his name.

You always know how to make me feel better. XO

I hit the send button on a text to him right as my phone rings.

‘Hello?’

‘She’s still talking to us!’ my mom yells into the receiver, clearly updating my father, who’s probably sitting in the same room with her. ‘We were beginning to wonder…’

‘I’ve been busy, I’m sorry.’

‘We missed you at dinner last weekend.’

Whenever my parents speak they are not individuals. They’re a we or an us. I guess when you’ve been married nearly forty years that can happen.

They don’t live far from me. They’re about a twenty-minute drive, which means Sunday dinner is always possible; no matter what plans I have, I should be able to make it. It’s become something of a tradition.

I never intended to miss dinner last weekend but having Henry thrown back into my life unexpectedly and the pressure of figuring out the new job I had was enough to make me need to sleep through last Sunday.

‘I might miss this week too.’

I have to work up the courage to talk to Henry and I have a feeling it might take me longer than it should. If I can, hopefully he’ll agree to help with the website, and I will once again be available for Sunday dinner.

She sighs into the phone, obviously not thrilled about me missing dinner two weeks in a row.

‘You could come tonight?’

I can’t say no. Ever since Rory died, I feel like I need to do anything I can to make sure that they are happy. It wasn’t just hard on Henry and me. My parents lost a child. That should never happen. No one should have to bury their children. I’ve already missed one week – I think if I miss two they might start to feel it.

‘Sure, Mom. When should I be there?’

‘What time do you get off work?’

‘Actually, I got fired yesterday so I’m free whenever.’

I wouldn’t tell them because they’ll worry, but I hate lying.

‘Fired? Wynne! Ambri was fired from her job!’ She yells it into my ear.

‘Her old room is still exactly the way she left it,’ I hear him say to her not so far off in the distance.

I laugh into the phone. ‘I’m not moving back in, Mom.’

‘Well, if you’re free to come over you can come now, and we’ll have lunch.’

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