Best Buds (12 page)

Aunt Lily shook her head slowly. “You’re right. I didn’t receive an invitation. For all these years, I thought you’d left me out.”

Mrs. McGillicuddy blinked. “And all that time I thought you were incredibly rude,” she said. Her expression softened. “I should have known you wouldn’t forget to RSVP,” she said. “You’ve always had impeccable manners.”

Aunt Lily nodded, a rare smile stealing over her face. “And I should have realized my invitation was lost in the mail. We were so close. I was just too embarrassed to ask, so I assumed the worst.”

“Will you forgive me?” they asked simultaneously, then burst into laughter. I couldn’t help joining in. My heart felt lighter. My plan had worked

“Lily, today is a very special day for me,” said Mrs. McGillicuddy softly. “I’d love if you could stay for our party.”

Aunt Lily opened her mouth. I could tell she was about
to decline, but then changed her mind. “Thank you, Geraldine,” she said, “I would love to.”

I smiled at the two friends. Then I thought about Ashley and me. A lot of similarities and one big difference — Ashley had never invited me to her party, although I had saved it for her.
Not that I want to go anyway,
I reminded myself.

Mom walked into the entryway. “Del, did you get that list …” Then she noticed her aunt. “Why, hello there, Lily,” she said.

“Hello, Daisy,” said Aunt Lily. “I’m just catching up with my old friend, Geraldine.”

I grabbed Mom’s arm and we walked outside with the list, giving Aunt Lily and Mrs. McGillicuddy some privacy.

Mom looked at me funnily as we put the flower list into the frame and set it on the table. “I don’t know how this happened, Del, but I assume you had something to do with it,” she said.

I smiled. “I’ll explain later,” I told her. We finished setting up and headed inside to say good-bye to Mrs. McGillicuddy.

“Call my cell if you need anything,” Mom told her. “Happy anniversary! I hope you have an amazing party.”

“I’ve got it covered,” said Aunt Lily. “Go to your next event.” She gave me another surprising smile. “And thank you, Del.”

“Anytime, Aunt Lily,” I said. I couldn’t help it. I had a really warm feeling inside. Del Bloom, friendship saver! Bringing old ladies together after years apart.

When Mom and I arrived at Society Sisters, we were pleased to see that the barn was almost totally decorated. We set to work lining up the luminarias, putting garlands of flowers on the tire swing, the benches, and the wooden fences. After the tables were set by the waitstaff, we started assembling the centerpieces. It was a bit complicated, but Mom and I soon got into a groove. When we were done, we surveyed our work.

“Amazing,” we said at the same time. But Mom was looking antsy. “We’re pretty much done here,” she said. “But someone should stay till the grand reveal. Just to make sure everything goes as planned.”

I nodded.

I wasn’t prepared for what came next. “So … I hate to do this to you,” Mom said, “but would you mind overseeing it by yourself? I’ll be back in an hour or so to get you. I have some last-minute errands to run.”

I stared at her in disbelief. “So you’re leaving me in charge of my enemy’s birthday party? All by myself. And on my …”

But Mom was already halfway to the van. “Good luck!” she called.

Was this really happening? Then I sighed.
In for a penny, in for a pound,
as Gramps always says.

Ashley and her mom arrived shortly afterward. I made sure the barn doors were closed tight so the surprise wouldn’t be spoiled, and went to greet them.

I had to admit that Ashley looked, as usual, very glamourous in a strapless, pale blue silk dress with floaty layers. I thought of the simple sundress I had packed for my birthday dinner in Maine and smiled. Her hair was up in a French twist and she had on pretty, gold sling backs. She walked unsteadily down the path toward the barn.

It couldn’t have been more perfect. The sky was turning a rosy pink and the luminarias glowed beautifully. The fairy lights danced in the breeze. The white-tuxedoed waitstaff bustled about, setting up the hors d’oeuvres tables. A handsome waiter presented the Edwardses each with a colorful drink in a champagne flute. “Watermelon sparklers,” he murmured.

I felt a slight tinge of envy. But mostly I felt proud of the amazing last-minute party I had planned — which was about one hundred times better than the lame indoor party Ashley had planned for herself. Just saying.

“Open the doors,” Ashley said. “I want to see the centerpieces.” She gave me a look. “They had better be perfect,” she added.

“They are,” I replied confidently. “But you’ll have to wait. We have a special surprise in store for you.”

Mrs. Edwards and I exchanged glances.

Ashley looked like she wanted to argue, but then her guests began to arrive.

Mrs. Edwards touched my arm. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered. “Thank you so much, Del!” Then she added, “I hope the special surprise is a hit!”

As some of my classmates began to arrive, I decided it was time to fade into the woodwork. Though it would have been nice to talk to some kids I hadn’t seen since the last day of school, I felt way too conspicuous in my dusty T-shirt, cut-offs, and Converse All-Stars. I especially had no desire to see Hamilton and his date. I slipped through the crowd with my head down, unnoticed.

“This is awesome!” I heard Carmine tell Penelope Peterson as he scarfed down a canapé.

“Totally gorge!” Rachel gushed to Samantha.

Just you wait
, I thought.

I headed around to the back of the barn and went inside.

The room looked incredible. The luxurious chandeliers, decorations, Oriental rugs, and tables set with crystal and china, contrasted amazingly against the rough wood of the walls. The odor of hay mingled with the heady floral smell. And the centerpieces just blew me away.

The banquet manager strode over to me. “Everyone is waiting outside. Are we good to go?”

I nodded. “We’re good to go.”

A minute later, I threw open the barn door and stepped back into the shadows.

The guests at first just stared in amazement. Then they gasped. For the tables each had a centerpiece of tightly packed, deep red roses, studded with white stephanotis, which each had a sparkling crystal placed in the center. They looked like perfect shining stars against the field of red.

But what everyone was gasping about was the gorgeously glowing blue base of each arrangement. We had filled the large crystal vases with silica gel and added hot water. Once the gel had expanded, we layered in LED light cubes, then added the flowers. They were red, white, and blue, and totally breathtaking. Just like the Fourth of July fireworks that had inspired them.

Ashley stood there, her mouth open and her eyes wide. When everyone spontaneously burst into applause and cheers, she grinned widely.

I was close enough to see Olivia Post, our former Bridezilla, grab Ashley’s arm and say, “Uh-ma-zing. I’m speechless.”

My work here was done. I made my way inconspicuously to the back door. Or at least I thought I was inconspicuous. Until I found my way blocked by the very person I had been trying to avoid. You guessed it, Hamilton Baldwin. Looking crazy handsome in a jacket and tie. The same jacket and tie he had worn to the middle school prom, I noted.

“Hey, Del,” he said. “Nice centerpieces.”

“Thanks,” I said uncomfortably.

He smiled and waved someone over. My heart sank as I realized that the person heading toward us was the girl from Fleur. She was wearing a one-shouldered black dress and high heels. I suddenly felt very young, very short, and very underdressed.

“I’d like to introduce you to someone …” Hamilton started to say.

My eyes widened in alarm.

“This is my …” he began.

“My mom’s outside!” I blurted out. “I’ve got to go!” And then, not looking back, I ran out the door.

I had just stepped outside when someone grabbed my arm. I spun around, expecting to see Hamilton.

To my utter surprise, it was Ashley. “Del, I …” she started. “I … want to thank you for making my party so cool. For convincing me to have it.”

“No problem,” I said.

“I love it!” she said. She looked down at the ground. “I know it couldn’t have been easy,” she said. “Especially considering we’re not exactly best buds anymore.”

“I … uh …” I sputtered.

I watched in disbelief as Ashley pulled her hand out from behind her back and handed me a pretty frosted cupcake. “Happy Birthday, Del,” she said, and disappeared back inside before I could say anything in return. Not that I would have been able to. I was completely and totally speechless.

As I stood waiting in the dark parking lot, the sounds of laughter and cheers of Ashley’s guests echoing across the parking lot, my excitement over the party’s success was slowly overshadowed by other things. Disappointment that Hamilton had a girlfriend. Anger that the only person to wish me a happy birthday had been my worst enemy. I began to silently stew. I threw the cute cupcake into the bushes. Maybe the raccoons would enjoy it. I had lost my appetite.

Mom pulled up, the gravel crunching under her wheels. She had a big grin on her face. Wordlessly, I slipped into the passenger seat and buckled my seat belt.

“So?” she said impatiently.

“It was fine,” I said. “She liked it.”

I didn’t say another word the whole way home.

Mom and I returned home to a dark house. I decided to try one last hint.

“It really was a special day,” I said as we walked up the front steps, looking at Mom meaningfully.

“Mmmm-hmmm,” she replied.

Shaking my head, I pushed open the front door and tripped over the shoes.

“Stupid Crocs!” I grumbled. I slipped out of my sneakers and headed upstairs.

“Del!” called Mom. “Nobody seems to be around and I need some help getting the fishing poles out of the back of the shed. Can you help me move the bikes?”

I rolled my eyes. Was she kidding? Of course I minded! Moving the bikes was a terrible, time-consuming job on any day! I took a deep breath and headed back down the stairs. Could this birthday get any worse?

I followed Mom out the back door into the backyard. I blinked. Were those lights hanging from the branches of our big oak tree?

Then I heard a chorus of voices call out: “Surprise!”

I blinked as I saw Dad, my sisters, and even Aunt Lily smiling at me.

Mom turned to me. “Happy Birthday, Del.”

My eyes took in the paper lanterns, the white lights, the quilt thrown over the picnic table, the Mason jars filled with wildflowers, and the big jar with the spigot, filled with lemonade.

They remembered! I smiled at everyone in shock. Grateful, happy, shock.

I turned to Mom. “How in the world …”

“Becky,” she said. “She called me from camp and told me about your dream party. I’m so sorry I had to leave you alone at Ashley’s, but someone had to go pick up the lobsters.”

“You mean we’re having …”

“A backyard-kind-of-lobster bake,” she said. “We have everything but the pit.”

“I can’t believe it,” I said, blinking back tears. “This is amazing.”

My sisters rushed over. “Happy birthday, dear Del!” they shouted, wrapping me in a big group hug.

Poppy started jumping up and down with excitement. “Del, you’re never going to believe who’s …”

And that’s when Gran and Gramps stepped forward.

“Happy Birthday, Del!” they chorused.

For the second time that night, I was completely speechless. “I … uh …” My eyes went from Gran to Gramps and back again. They looked so tan and relaxed and happy. “I can’t believe it!” I finally choked out. “I’ve missed you both so much! What are you two doing here?”

Gramps rushed forward to hug me, lifting me off the ground. “We couldn’t miss your thirteenth birthday, now could we?”

After I’d hugged Gramps and Gran about ten times each, Dad led me over to the picnic table. As the paper lanterns swayed in the breeze, we started eating. First, we had New England clam chowder, creamy and delicious. Then came lobsters, corn on the cob, and lots of butter to dip it all in. After I had eaten every bite of lobster meat (nobody can eat a lobster the way I can), I squirted lemon juice on my hands to clean them off. (Wet naps are for wimps.)

After dinner it was time for presents. Turned out all of my friends
had
remembered and mailed me different gifts. I grinned as I opened them — a bottle of
citrusy-smelling perfume from Heather, a pair of white plastic retro-looking sunglasses from Amy, and bizarrely enough, a pair of leg warmers from Jessica. She always buys the weirdest gifts.

I saved Becky’s for last — it was a flat, rectangular gift wrapped in white paper with purple, curling ribbon corkscrewing across it. A book, for sure! I opened it up and stared at the familiar cover.

I laughed out loud.
“No Flying in the House
!” I cried. I flipped open the front cover and read what Becky had written inside:

I closed the book and hugged it to my chest.

“And this is from all of us,” said Mom, handing me a slim box. I lifted the top and gasped as I saw what was
inside — a tiny ruby pendant, my birthstone, hanging from a delicate gold chain.

“I picked it out!” Poppy boasted happily.

“I love it,” I said.

Gran and Gramps had brought me a fun straw bag from Key West and a huge conch shell they had found and polished. Even Aunt Lily gave me a gift — a pretty jewelry box, where I could store my new necklace.

“Thank you for what you did earlier, Del,” she said softly.

I felt embarrassed. “No problem, Aunt Lily,” I said.

I looked at my family. My crazy, kooky, extremely generous, and thoughtful family. “Thanks, everyone,” I said.

“Speech, speech!” Dad called out.

I gulped. I despise public speaking, even if it’s just in front of my family. But I knew what I wanted to say. “You know,” I began, “who needs a fancy catered party, anyway? This is shaping up to be the best birthday ever!”