Chapters (68)
- Cover
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- One
- Two
- Chapter One
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Chapter Two
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Chapter Three
- Ten
- Eleven
- Chapter Four
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Chapter Five
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Chapter Six
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Chapter Seven
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Chapter Eight
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Chapter Nine
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Chapter Ten
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Chapter Eleven
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Chapter Twelve
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Chapter Thirteen
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Chapter Fourteen
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Chapter Fifteen
- The Following Summer
- About the Author
- About the Publisher
As she changed into her party dress, Ali considered Digger’s comment about choices. Why was making the right choice so hard? Digger marrying her mother was the right choice. Digger and Teddy going over the Reversing Falls was the wrong choice. But if Teddy had survived, would that have made their adventure the right choice? Probably not. Gigi had decided to help Alfie out of love, and you could argue all day about whether that was the right or wrong thing to do. It made her head ache, trying to make sense of it all.
In the end, she supposed the best thing a person could do when making a choice was to base it on kindness and be true to herself. She grabbed a Post-it note, scribbled that down, and stuck it to the wall next to her bed. This might be the most important note of all.
Forty-Five
The first guests arrived promptly at four o’clock: Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph, Topsy’s owners.
“Happy birthday!” they called to Gigi, who sat like a queen on her throne in the wingback chair next to Walter Pidgeon. She wore a tiara and her satin gloves and hadn’t taken her eyes off Walter since she’d come downstairs.
“How’s that mangy Topsy?” demanded Gigi.
“It’s funny you should ask,” said a perplexed Mrs. Rudolph. “I think he got into some kind of catfight. He has quite a scratch on his face.”
“Serves him right,” muttered Gigi.
The law firm arrived next: six lawyers in smart suits. They made a big deal of presenting Gigi with her framed birthday announcement, and she pretended to swoon when the senior partner kissed her on the cheek.
“Don’t be jealous, Walter!” she warned her movie-star boyfriend.
The doorbell rang again. Ali was surprised to see Emily and her father.
Mr. Arai stuck out his hand. “You must be Ali. Emily’s told me all about you! Now where’s the birthday girl? I haven’t seen Gertrude in years.” Ali pointed him toward the living room and he rushed away, leaving her and Emily in awkward silence.
“Can I take your coat?” Ali finally asked.
Emily took off her coat and gave it to Ali. “You look pretty.”
Ali glanced down at the blue velvet dress her mother had found at the Salvation Army thrift store. “Really? Thanks.”
Emily followed her to the den, where the coats were heaped on a couch. “Can we talk?”
Ali placed Emily’s coat on the top of the pile and waited.
“I’m sorry,” Emily said. “I’d like to be friends again.”
“Really?”
“I was stupid. And bossy. I’ve been messed up since my parents told me they’re getting a divorce. But I like hanging out with you. It reminded me of when—”
“You hung out with Cassie.”
“How did you know?”
“You talk about her a lot.”