Page 44 of Lilly

"So do Miles and Ethan. We have to keep the bag away from those two or the cookies will be gone within minutes."

The twins love cookies. Doesn't matter what kind. They love them all. I call them my little cookie monsters.

Reed walks in. "We got the chairs out."

He's still alive, so that's good. And he's smiling, also good.

I go up to him. "Guess what?"

"What?"

"I'll be down in L.A. next Wednesday and Thursday. We're going shopping and having a spa day."

"Sorry, but I'm not really into either one of those things," he says, trying not to laugh.

I kiddingly punch him. "I meant my mom and me. You're not invited, but we'll stop by and see you. Are you going to be around?"

"I should be. Just call when you get there and we'll figure out a time."

Reed is designing album covers all summer. He did it during the school year too, but with classes and homework he was only able to work on a few. This summer, he has eight lined up and they take a while to do. But he can set his own hours, which works out well for when I make these last minute trips to L.A..

"What else can I do?" Reed asks Rachel.

"Could you get the lawn games out? Ask Pearce to find them. They're either in the storage shed or the garage."

I think Reed was hoping he'd get to stay in the kitchen, not be sent back outside with my dad, but he does what she says and returns to the back yard.

My phone rings just I'm popping another cookie in my mouth. I pick it up and answer, "Hello?"

"Hello, Lilly."

It's my mom. Calling to ruin my holiday. Damn. Why didn't I check the phone before I answered?

"Hi, Mom. How are you?"

Rachel glances at me, a look of concern on her face. She knows it's never good when my mom calls. She's either calling to demand I do something or to tell me I'm doing something wrong.

"Why does your voice sound so muffled?" she asks. "Is your phone not working?"

"I'm eating a cookie." I quickly swallow it and take the water Rachel is handing me.

"You shouldn't be eating sweets. It's bad for your figure. No one likes a fat girl, Lilly. How many times do I need to tell you that?"

Not wanting to fight with her, I don't respond to her question and just wait for her to continue.

"I'm calling to tell you that I'm coming to see you."

"What?" I sit up straight, my heart racing. "When?"

"Next week. I'm flying to L.A.. I have no desire to see your father or that woman he lives with so you'll have to drive down and meet me."

That woman he lives with. That's what she calls Rachel. My mom hates Rachel so much she won't even say her name.

"What day?" I ask, then kick myself because my question implies I'm actually going to meet her when I really don't want to. She's my mother so I should want to see her but I don't. After what she did to me last year and what she tried to do to Reed, I have no interest in having any kind of relationship with her. And yet she still calls me every couple months as if nothing is wrong.

"Wednesday," she says. "Meet me in the afternoon at my hotel and we'll go for dinner. Then you can stay overnight and we'll go shopping on Thursday."

"I can't. I already have plans."

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