I was sprawled across my bed, my ankles crossed, getting further into Jane Eyre when upon casually glancing up, I spotted my mother holding the door open just a crack and peering shyly at me.

"What is it, Mother?"

I instantly suspected that it was something she was too embarrassed to share.

"Nothing." She murmured but continued to watch me, indecisively.

I rolled my eyes and she gave up, dancing fully into my room.

"Actually," she chirped, sitting across from me on the bed. "Mrs. Clarkson, you know, the Women’s Benefit Association’s president? She will be hosting this dinner party to commemorate the inauguration of the new children’s hospital we helped open on Robin Street next Sunday night." Renee paused. I knew exactly what she was about to ask me. "You wouldn’t want to accompany with me, would you?" She ended slowly, fingering each word delicately.

I eyed her, stubbornly.

"Dinner party?"

Renee nodded. "Please?" She strained the word, childishly.

"Dad?"

She scoffed.

"Fine."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Because you really don’t have to if you think you’ll feel uncomfortable in such a stuffy atmosphere and we might be talking the whole night, if you get tired.."

"Mom, I said it’s fine."

"Oooh, thank you!" Renee pulled me into her arms. "I’ll make it up to you, I promise." She started to get off the bed but then I remembered just how she could recompense me.

"Mom? Summer is almost here and I was wondering if you had plans to visit Gran this year."

Renee stopped on her way to the door. She hesitated before answering. "I don’t think I shall this year, Bella."

"Why not?" I really wanted to know.

She hesitated again. "It’s just…your grandmother and I aren’t really on the same page right now."

"You fought with Gran?"

She rolled her eyes. "Not "fought". But if I go see her she might get the wrong idea and-" Then she rushed through the next part. "And in any case, your dad was talking about spending some time in Crystal Lake. The fishing should be hefty over there. That’s where the dinner will be Sunday night too."

"Oh." I retaliated for now. There was obviously something she wasn’t comfortable with sharing with me at the moment.

Even without looking up (my eyes were back on my book), I heard the brightness in Renee’s voice a second later.

"But if you would rather visit Gran this summer than stay here with us, then I could telephone her after dinner." She suggested, willingly.

I bit my lip. Boy, would I love that! Then again, Renee here alone- well, not alone but Charlie wouldn’t much efficient with calming her nerves since it seemed that the fact she was trying to hide was that Charlie was the problem with visiting Gran. Not that he didn’t get along with Gran, they behaved themselves accordingly in one another’s company, both didn’t say much to each other. But I had begun to notice the criticisms Gran whispered to Mom about Charlie and Mom was worried that if she went to see Gran this summer, it would convince Gran that her marriage was not so stable anymore.

"Um…I don’t know. Can I have a week to think about it?" I asked.

"Of course, honey, summer break is a few weeks away and you do have three months to think about where you want to spend it." Mom left then and I tumbled back.

One thing was for sure: this dinner party would be better spent with a book hidden in my hand.