Page 23 of The Parkers' Handsome Holiday
I parked my car in the lot two spots down from where I used to park my old beat-up Ford pickup truck when I was a student. It was strange to be driving a black luxury Beamer instead now.
A couple other people I didn’t recognize were arriving as well, so I made my way across the lot to the front doors. Inside in the main foyer, a huge banner was hung that read “WELCOME GRADS OF 2004”. It was written in our school colors, yellow and blue, and nostalgia wrapped itself firmly around me.
Two young girls, high school students here most likely, were sitting at a table. In front of them were clipboards, and I walked over to them. They asked my name and marked a check beside it on their form.
I peered down. “Would you be able to check if someone is here yet for me?”
One of the girls, a brunette with braces and a chipper personality, nodded. “Sure thing. What’s the name?”
I cleared my throat. “Uh, Lina Nelson.”
The girl ran her finger up and down the page until she got to the last names starting with N. She dragged the tip of her finger across the page to the little square by Lina’s name. “Nope. She’s not here. Maybe she’ll come later.”
“Yeah. Maybe.”
“Here are your drink tickets,” the girl said. “This is for beer, wine, or cocktails. The bar is on your left when you go in. And I imagine you remember where the restrooms are?”
I smiled. “Sure do.”
“Great. Have a good evening, sir.”
“I will. Thank you.”
I made my way down the main hall to the gymnasium, following the signs that pointed in that direction for the reunion. I arrived outside the main entrance, two wide metal double doors that led into the gym. The hardwood floors were just as scuffed as I remembered as I stepped in. It smelled like plastic and floor cleaner and old gym uniforms.
Exactly like it used to.
I looked around at the setup. It was well done. The ceiling was filled with sheer drapings that hung down about halfway, ending maybe three or four feet above my head. It gave the place a much more sophisticated look, and once I was inside, it didn’t really feel like a gym anymore.
Tables were set up all over the place and covered in white table cloths. White seat covers were draped over the chairs and secured with blue ribbon. Candles burned on every table, and twinkle lights framed the setup where the buffet was. In the north corner was a stage where I presumed the live entertainment would happen.
“Well, look what we have here,” a familiar, friendly voice said from behind me. “Callum Gabriel.”
I turned around to find David smiling at me. He held out his hand, and I gripped it before we both drew each other in for a half hug. It was more of a shoulder bump, and it was how we had greeted each other when we were kids. “David, you look great, man. How are you?”
“I’m good. Better now that you’re here. I thought there was a good chance you might bail.”
“There was,” I admitted. “You know this isn’t my scene.”
He nodded. “I know. Your scene is courtrooms and sophisticated restaurants.”
I laughed. “That’s not true.”
“No?”
I shrugged. “Well, maybe it’s a little true.”
David grinned. “Just a little?”
I rolled my eyes at him. “Drop it. Where are we supposed to sit? Does it matter?”
“Nope. Open seating. I was surprised too. Usually the people who plan these things are super uptight about everything, from the seating plan to the menu.”
“It’s not a wedding, David.”
“Thank God for that. Weddings are nothing but massive snooze fests. The last one I went to was—” He stopped talking abruptly and blinked.
I nodded. “I know. It’s all right. Mine and Claire’s?”
