Page 84 of Swept Away

“Like a journal and stuff. Some pictures, and a little gift from him.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes. What else?”

“I don’t know. Did he say why he popped up out of nowhere?”

“He said he traveled here for work, but he knew about your birthday.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. He probably knew it from back then. Tina didn’t keep in touch with him. But they probably talked sometime before you were born. I don’t know how he knows your exact birthday date. Maybe he bribed someone at the hospital,” she jokes.

“Eww. Creepy.”

“He’s fine,” she says in a calm voice, although I feel differently about it.

“All right. Thanks for letting me know. I’ll see you later.”

With that, we end the call.

19

GEMMA

I mostly havea good time because it doesn’t feel like a surprise party, which has been anything but a surprise.

It’s a nice gathering with adults seated around the table, good food, and no blind dates.

It’s nice to get together with your family and talk about things other than work and school.

Around eleven at night, I start glancing at the time.I’m ready to go home.

Looking around the table, I find something to eat–a cheese roll–and once I’m done, I push my chair back and head to the bathroom.

My long skirt moves around my ankles as I walk down the corridor.

Moments later, I check my hair in the mirror and adjust one of my tank top straps before washing my hands and walking out.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I’m about to check the screen as I return to the living room when my aunt’s voice drifts from one of the rooms.

“Gemma?”

I stop and change my direction before pushing a door open. She’s in her bedroom, a box in her hand.

“Take it now. I don’t want you to forget about it,” Charlize says.

Younger than my mother, my aunt has short brown hair and blue eyes.

She loves practical clothing, and her current choice is a testament to that. Cropped pants and a flowing sleeveless shirt. Bangles jingling around her wrist.

I take the box from her.

It’s a gift-wrapped box, which I think is a nice touch. Whatever lies inside, I’m in no hurry to check.

If it belongs to my mother, it can’t be great.

My mother is wild now–look who’s talking–but she was worse back then.