Just My Luck by Adele Parks (best interesting books to read TXT) 📕

man his credit he doesn’t blanch. It’s only after the chorus of appreciative noises has died down that Jake says, “There are places available. You could start straight after half term.”

“What? The week after next? No, that’s not possible,” I say instinctually, although I haven’t really fully formed a reason as to why I’m objecting.

“Why not? It makes sense to get half a term under their belts before the summer. That way they can make friends who they can see over the long holidays. The right sort of friends,” adds Jake, looking pointedly at Emily’s bashed face.

“How come there are places? I thought a school like that would have waiting lists. It should have if it’s any good.”

“It does.” Jake grins. “The headmistress mentioned her plans to extend the library. I made a sizable donation.”

“You did what?” I bristle.

“It’s how it works, Lexi.”

“If we start the week after half term, does that mean we can’t go to New York?” asks Emily. “That was when we were planning our trip.”

“I think we should cancel that,” says Jake.

“What? No,” Emily objects vehemently.

“Well, postpone. We can go in the summer. Your mother is right, we need to get you back in a routine. Start our new life as soon as we can.” The kids glare at me and I’m unsure how the blame landed at my door.

“If we cancel the holiday, will we get our deposits back?” I ask.

“For the hotel, yes.”

“What about the flights?”

“I’m not sure.”

Emily looks broken. I want to fix her. “I suppose now that I’m not working and don’t have to worry about getting leave at half term we could bring the trip forward. Go next week,” I suggest.

“I thought about that, but then thought maybe it’s all a bit too much. Maybe we do need to take a breather, like you said. Take time to really let it all sink in. I mean, we’ll need to organize buying the new school uniforms and such. It will be hectic,” says Jake. I am gobsmacked by his U-turn and I must look as startled as I feel because he adds, “What’s up? I thought you’d be pleased.”

I am. Deep down, I think. I do believe we need a breather and I wasn’t really looking forward to the orgy of shopping on Fifth Avenue that I know Emily was planning, but I had been keen to visit Ellis Island and see the Statue of Liberty. Besides, I just don’t like breaking promises to the kids. Reading my mind, Jake assures me, “The kids will get over it. I’m not saying never, I’m just postponing.” Turning to them, he flashes one of his best smiles. “When we go in the summer, we can stay longer or fly to the West Coast, too, and go to LA.”

“LA! Really?” Emily is instantly mollified.

“We could visit Universal Studios,” adds Jake. And that hooks in Logan. He doesn’t need to say anything more—they are placated, compliant. The holiday forgotten. A new school agreed to. Like lightning. Jake has secured everything he wanted. Yet he pushes on regardless. “You know what I’ve been thinking?”

“What?”

“We should throw a party.”

“A party?”

“It’s no one’s birthday for ages.”

“You can have a party without it being a birthday, Logan,” points out Jake. “I was thinking we should throw a party to say goodbye to all your old school friends and we could get the class list off your new school and invite your new friends, too.”

“Have you lost your mind? That will never work,” I interject. I think it’s so obvious I don’t even feel I have to explain. Two sets of teens from different schools and different scenes. Half of whom we’ve never met. Why would they even agree to come? I’m absolutely blown away by the fact that Emily isn’t closing down the idea immediately.

“All my old school friends?” she asks with what sounds like curiosity.

“Yes. A huge blow-their-minds sort of party.” He doesn’t say it, but I can’t help but think that far from being a celebratory occasion—the subcontext is to rub other people’s noses in it. To smear our wealth far and wide.

“And my friends?” asks Logan.

“Sure, yeah of course, buddy.” Jake ruffles Logan’s hair. “And mine and your mum’s. We’ll invite everyone we know.”

I hate being thrust into the role of realist bad cop, but feel I have to point out the flaws in the plan that seem so obvious to me and are apparently eluding everyone else. “And do you think everyone will come?”

“Well, my old mates certainly will,” says Emily, presumably discounting Ridley and Megan, who are unlikely to RSVP in the positive even if we did ask them, which I never would, not in a million years.

“I see that, but your dad mentioned inviting your new classmates. I’m not sure about that. We know nothing about them. We don’t know how they roll.”

“Everyone loves a party,” interjects Jake.

“Well, no, teens don’t. Not always.” He’s a very involved dad; I know he is aware of cliques, gangs, fashions, trends, socioeconomic status, cool status and just plain old-fashioned self-consciousness—all the factors that can cripple a teen party.

“I think if there is enough drink, everyone will enjoy it,” insists Emily.

“Emily, you are fifteen. Any alcohol served will be limited and, besides, you don’t even drink.”

“Yeah, you’re a freak,” chips in Logan.

Emily throws him a searing look of irritation and I automatically say by rote, “Don’t be rude to your sister.”

“I’m not being rude. I’m being factual. She’s two months off her sixteenth birthday and she doesn’t drink. Everyone else her age does. She’s a freak and I don’t just mean everyone else considers her a freak, which they do, she is an actual freak. Statistically proven.” Logan continues to dip skinny fries into the ketchup and then pushes them into his mouth, seemingly unaware of the offense he is causing.

Jake rescues the situation. His ease and charm are always really helpful when it comes to defusing the kids’ spats. “I think everyone will come to the party