The-Lucky-List-Rachael-Lippincott

32
“You ready?” Kiera asks when I slide into the car.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I say, clicking into my seat belt. “Did Olivia give her mom the bask—”
“Yes,” Kiera says.
“And does she have th—”
“Em,” she says, reaching out to grab my arm. “Olivia gave her mom the basket and the numbers. Jake
is making sure Blake will be there. And… Matt got us the seat in the back corner in case things go
south and we gotta get the hell out of there.”
I look up in surprise.
Matt.
She smiles at me. “Like he’d miss out on a good scheme.”
I feel tears sting at my eyes, one thing a little less broken.
I try to fight the queasiness in my stomach the whole ride to the elementary school for the “Back-2-
School Bingo Fundraiser,” the feeling so strong that not even Kiera playing some Billie Eilish can
completely quash it.
Three years ago this was the absolute worst day of my entire life. August 20. The day my mom died.
And now, just maybe, with the help of my friends, with the help of my mom and her list, this
anniversary doesn’t have to be all bad memories.
e parking lot is already packed by the time we get there, and Kiera circles a few times to find a
spot while I peer at everyone walking inside, searching for Blake’s face.
Aer we park, we join the throngs of people heading into the cafetorium, all the regulars already
there.
Tyler Poland with his collection of lucky rocks, Jim Donovan ready to fight to the death, Principal
Nelson perched at the main table selling cards.
I crane my neck, trying to get a better look at the people coming inside, my eyes jumping from
person to person, but she’s nowhere to be found. I catch sight of Olivia’s mom, Donna Taylor, and she
gives me a curt nod, the basket cradled tightly in her arms.
When we get to the front of the line, Principal Nelson hands me my mom’s card with a smile, and I
pause, reaching out to pick up another card, number twelve. For the list. “I’ll take this one too,” I say.