Chapter 43

Austin

Concentrating at school isn’t easy for me most days, but this afternoon it was impossible. With the fake workiversary party looming, all I could think about was what would happen if Grandpa found out.

And then the what-ifs started to sneak back in. What if it doesn’t work? What if I’m too late?

Getting fired from Brayside would be the ultimate betrayal for Grandpa. He’s given so much to that place. It’s more than just a job; the residents are like family to him. By the time I get to Brayside after school, I’m a nervous wreck.

“Where is he?” I whisper to Louise. She gives me a conspiratorial wink as I stash my backpack behind the reception desk.

“I sent your grandpa to Mr. Santos’ room. He’s going to keep him busy while we get set up.” I wince at the thought of being stuck with Mr. Santos until five o’clock. Grandpa might actually want to take forced retirement after the sixty minutes are up.

“And I told him he has to come to the sing-along today. He mumbled something about being tone deaf, but I told him Mrs. O’Brien had baked something special for him.”

“Good thinking,” I say.

A familiar SUV pulls up to the curb outside and a minute later a ball of scruffy white fur races inside, followed by Maggie. “I asked my mom if she’d let me bring him today,” Maggie explains, unclipping his leash from his collar. “Your grandpa was really nice to him when he was lost. I thought he should be here.”

Harvey’s tail is wagging so fast his butt levitates off the ground. I laugh and bury my hands in the fur between his ears, then down his back. When I look at Maggie, I expect to see her smiling too, but she’s not. “Everything okay?” I ask. Something is wrong. Even her hair doesn’t look as bright as usual.

Maggie gives a one-shoulder shrug. “School sucked today.” I know how that feels. “Did you do bad on a test?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “My friends are mad at me.” Maggie bites her lips, hesitating. “They wanted me to hang out with them at Tubby’s Pizza Place, but instead I came here.”

“But you couldn’t go! It’s the party.”

“Exactly!” She looks relieved that I see her side of it. “I can go to Tubby’s anytime.”

Maggie doesn’t have to explain to me what she gets out of being at Brayside. “Maybe you could bring them sometime? They could meet Mrs. Fradette.”

Maggie snorts. “I can’t even imagine suggesting that to Lexi.”

What kind of friends do you have? I wonder, and when I look at her face, I know she’s thinking the same thing.

“I’ll be in Mrs. Fradette’s room,” she says. “Let me know if you need help with anything. I’ll bring Harvey with me so he isn’t in the way.”

Harvey follows Maggie down the hall. Mary Rose shows up carrying a tray of cups. She nods to the dining room. “I just checked in with Mr. Santos. He’s showing Phillip his stamp collection. Your poor grandpa.” She shakes her head, laughing.

“At least now the sing-along won’t seem so bad,” I point out.

Mrs. O’Brien appears with a tray of cookies, including the double-chocolate ones Grandpa likes the best. Miss Lin has made paper flowers for all the tables that match the tablecloths and napkins. On the back wall, Louise hung up a banner that says: HAPPY ANNIVERSARY. Lots of residents mill around chatting with one another. There’s never been a surprise party at Brayside that I know of and they’re buzzing about it.

“I didn’t want to be late. It takes me a good five minutes to get down that hallway with my walker,” I hear Mrs. Luzzi say when she comes in.

“Not me. Fifteen seconds, door to door,” boasts Mr. Singh. The party doesn’t start for another forty-five minutes, but they’re all here, waiting for Grandpa. Waiting to tell him how much they want him to stay.