Then I make popcorn, one of Diesel’s other favourites, and we settle down to watch the movie. Diesel barks a few times at Lassie, but mostly he’s interested in my popcorn. I throw him a couple but he misses them and they land in his cone. More, more! I pop one of the fallen ones in his mouth.

Morgan and I have seen the movie before — well, it’s Diesel’s present, after all — so we talk during some parts. I tell her about the picnic and how nervous I am about Dad trying to get back together with Mom.

“I wouldn’t worry,” she reassures me. “He’s helping your mom with packing, making her food. If it doesn’t work out, it just wasn’t meant to be.”

Meant to be. What does that even mean? That whatever fate decides is in store for us can’t be changed? I refuse to believe that’s true. Every choice and move we make has to shift the path of our life.

At the end of the movie, we both cry when Lassie tumbles over the waterfall, even though we know she will survive eventually.

I cry harder when I glance down at my watch and see tomorrow’s date because I can feel myself sinking in the waves, too. But I take a deep breath. That four-thirty time can’t mean anything to me because I won’t drown, not if I don’t go swimming and I’m not even planning to go near the water.

“Well, I better head home,” Morgan says when the credits roll. “You’re not going to invite me to the picnic tomorrow, are you?”

“Do you really want to be there when Dad makes his big play?”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Could you watch Diesel instead?” I ask. “He’s supposed to stay quiet, so I don’t want to bring him.”

No! Diesel whimpers. I must come! He stands up and licks at my face.

“Wow, he’s pretty active for a wounded dog. That’ll be some job,” Morgan answers. “But sure, I can stay with Diesel.”

No, no, no! Diesel barks. All of the pack must come! “Rouff!”

“I’ve never seen him so worked up,” Morgan says. “You would think he knows what we’re talking about.”

“You’d be surprised.” I frown and try to clear my head of Diesel’s voice so I can think.

I will save you. Diesel shuffles, then barks again.

“You need to be quiet!” I tell him.

He pants heavily now. His eyes glint. We need the whole pack.

I sigh. Trouble is, I don’t entirely understand what Diesel knows. “Oh, what the heck. We have to bring Baby Luanne anyway. Might as well bring Diesel. We’ll just take it way easy.”

“Tom and Simon and the others might be hanging out at the dock in front of Zorba’s. I heard there’s even free ice cream tomorrow. We can give your folks alone time. No Frisbee chasing, don’t worry.”

At the dock in front of Zorba’s. Free ice cream. An icicle of fear shoots down my spine, and I feel hot and cold at the same time. I won’t go there. No way. Maybe the drowning was only a dream, but I’m not going to tempt fate. My vision can’t come true, not without my co-operation. And I will not co-operate.