Perfect Fifths_ A Jessica Darling Novel - Megan McCafferty [90]
“Oh, that’s just awful!” Bethany tutt-tutt-tutts. “Horrendously, hideously awful.”
Jessica judiciously refrains from explaining to Bethany that the sympathetic overtures are making her feel worse than she already does. “It’s not that bad, really.”
“Oh, to be alone in a hotel room, and on today of all days.”
Jessica rights the knocked-over lamp and switches it on. There is no long Marcus-shaped lump under the covers. The bathroom door is open, and the light is turned off. Unless he’s meditating in the dark on the floor of the closet, he’s not in the room. She appears to be alone on today of all days.
“Speaking of your day of days, there’s someone here who has something she wants to wish you.”
There’s a slight pause before Bethany begins singing along to a thin string accompaniment.
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday, Aunt J.!
Happy birthday to you!
Annnnd maaannnyyyy mooore!
Today, the nineteenth of January, is Jessica Darling’s birthday. However, this year the date has taken on new meaning: Today is three days after Sunny’s accident. Today is one day before Bridget and Percy’s wedding. Jessica knew it would be childish of her to insist on celebrating this nothing of a birthday when there were far more significant turning points clamoring for her attention on opposing sides of the emotional spectrum. Besides, after sweet sixteen and drunken twenty-one, the only landmark birthdays are those ending in zero or five, and this year doesn’t qualify. And yet she has to admit that hearing the cheesy little ditty sung in her honor makes her feel grateful that there are at least two people (okay, plus her parents—that’s four—oh, and Hope, who tried to wish her happy birthday before Jessica cut her off) who made note of her arrival into this world twenty-six winters ago. The emotions come at her all at once, tackling her like a too-tight hug.
“That was me on the violin and Mom on vocals,” chirps Marin when she gets on the line.
“Thanks, Marin,” Jessica says, trying to breathe normally. “It sounded awesome.” She walks over to the minibar, opens it up to see that it is well stocked, and grabs a regular Coke and a Baby Ruth bar.
“Eh, I’ve heard better,” Marin says dismissively “So how old are you today, anyway?”
Jessica pops open the soda can and takes a long slug before answering. “Twenty-six.”
Marin unleashes a loud, long whistle. “Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew. That’s getting up there, huh?”
Jessica can’t help but laugh at Marin’s candor. To her, any Disney Channel starlet who has aged out of her self-named sitcom qualifies as old. “I guess it is.” Jessica tears into the candy bar, noting that if not for the vitamin-packed muffin purchased by Marcus, she’d be running on a nutritive deficit for the day.
“Wasn’t my mom, like, married by twenty-six?”
Jessica can hear Bethany in the background, shushing loudly before correcting her. “I was twenty-seven, Marimba.”
“Mooooom,” Marin growls through her teeth. “Stop calling me that! I’m a person! Not a musical instrument!”
This combination comeback/takedown makes Jessica laugh but also reminds her of an earlier version of the same mother/daughter dynamic.
“Oh, Marin, tell your mom I saw a mother/daughter pair wearing matching BU! tracksuits.”
“Ack,” Marin gags. “Those tracksuits are fugly.”
“Right. The ones made out of hemp? With the conflict-free rhinestones?”
“Hemp! That’s right!” Marin repeats with an audible lip curl. “With conflict-free rhinestones!”
Jessica hears Bethany straining for information in the background. “What tracksuits? I hope you’re not referring to the affordable and earth-friendly line of Be You merchandise.”
“This is E-Car Jerry’s influence, huh?”
“Totally E-Car Jerry.”
Jessica can’t quite make out what Bethany is saying in the background, but that’s the point.
“Fine, Mom.” Marin sighs. “Can you please leave the room so I can talk to Aunt J. in private?”
Bethany mumbles something else, and Marin whines, “Okay! I got it!”