When we got to the spa, I had my nails done first, and my mother went in for her massage. The same woman agreed to squeeze me in before her next client. As I waited, Mrs. Foster walked in. Instantly I tried to hide behind a magazine. That didn’t last long because my mother was finished with her massage, and she called out to me. Mrs. Foster’s head snapped up, and she searched the room for me.
“Lauren ,” she said, walking over to where I stood.
“Mrs. Foster.” I tried hard to smile genuinely.
“Abigail.” My mother smiled and took over as she walked
clos er. “So good to see you.”
“Yes, it has been too long,” she replied with a hug.
“You’re up, dear.” My mother urged me to slip away. As I she opened the door for me to enter my phone chimed. I
winced at the masseuse. She smiled and nodded her head for me to go ahead and take the call as she shut the door.
She said, “You need to undress, get on the table then ring the bell on the side when you’re lying down.”
I nodded, put my things down on the chair as she exited the room. I quickly took a peek at my phone. It was Cassie.
3:43 p.m. Cassie: Lauren, call me ASAP!! Two exclamation marks must be urgent. I pondered a moment about calling her right away or just waiting until I saw her later. She was probably upset about a wardrobe mishap or something. Ignoring her request, I undressed, leaving my clothes folded neatly on the chair behind the screen in the corner of the room, then climbed on the table, ringing the bell. As the woman walked in, my phone chimed again.
3:51 p.m. Cassie: This is an emergency!!
I rolled my eyes and dialed her number. “Sorry.” I winced at the masseuse as I wrapped the towel around me and sat up.
“It’s fine,” she said, smiling, and waiting.
“Cassie, I am indisposed at the moment.” I said, annoyed. “What’s up?” Apparently Charlie and Cassie had had a fight that morning and he backed out of going to the party. I didn’t know what to say to her to comfort her.
“I’m sorry, Cass,” I replied. “When I am done here with my mom, I’ll come over.” It sucked to bail on my mother, considering how excited she was to spend the day together. With a heavy sigh I laid down again.
When I walked out to the lobby, my mother was still talking to Abagail Foster. She spun around with a look of relief on her face. I smiled as I stood next to her.
“You look refreshed,” Mrs. Foster said with a smile. “I feel refreshed.” I smiled , and then linked my arm around hers. “Ready?” I asked, and she nodded.
“It was great seeing you again,” my mother said.
“Yes, you must come by the house soon,” Abigail said, hugging my mother.
“Sounds good.” My mother forced a smile. “I’ll call you,” she added as she walked away.
When we got outside I broke the news to my mother about going to Cassie’s.
“That’s fine, dear.” She patted my hand. “Did Mrs. Foster seem weird to you?”
“Define weird,” I replied.
“She doesn’t seem herself,” she said.
“I don’t know how she should be, so I can’t help you there.” I shrugged. “Maybe you should take her up on her offer for the visit.”
“Perhaps.” She shrugged. I dropped my mother off at home and drove to Cassie’s.
When I arrived at Cassie’s, her mother answered the door, letting me in. “Hi Mrs. Harper is Cassie home?” I asked.
“She is in her room,” she replied with a smile.
“Cassie?” I said, poking my head in the door of her bedroom.