Double Trouble by Tia Mowry Page B

Mom believed in confronting issues, not avoiding them. Well, except when those issues had anything to do with our father.
    â€œYou want to go to the mall? Really?” Cassie sounded suspicious.
    Mom chuckled. “Yes, really. I’ve been so busy with the move and the new job that I haven’t had a moment to buy you two birthday gifts yet.” She shrugged. “This way you can pick out what you want and save yourself a trip back to exchange everything.”
    â€œSure, Mom,” I said uncertainly. “That sounds fun.”
    Cass shoveled the last bit of cereal into her mouth. “Yeah, I’m always up for the mall,” she said. “Just give me a minute to get dressed.”
    â€œMeet you at the car in ten minutes,” Mom said,hurrying toward her room.
    That left me alone in the kitchen. Once again, I apparently didn’t get a vote.
    â€œGuess we’re going to the mall,” I muttered with a sigh.

8
CASSIE
    THE SIX OAKS Galleria was pretty pathetic compared to the shopping in San Antonio. But it was miles better than the collection of dusty old stores in archaic Aura. It felt kind of weird to be there with my family, though. Mom hated malls, and Caitlyn had the fashion sense of a gnat. If not for my helpful advice, she’d probably go to school in sweats and sneakers every day.
    I eyed Mom as we pushed our way through theheavy glass doors. Cold air hit us—they had the AC cranked up to arctic in there. It felt good after the swampy weather outside, even though I sort of wished I’d brought a sweater. The mall was packed, which wasn’t surprising. What else was there to do on a boring Sunday in the middle of nowhere?
    â€œWhat do you say, girls?” Mom said cheerfully, glancing around. “Where should we go first?”
    That was weird. Mom never sounded happy about shopping. Especially if she had to deal with crowds to do it.
    â€œWhy don’t we start with the party shop?” I suggested, squinting in the direction of the directory as I tried to remember where I’d seen the store. I’d never been inside—streamers and balloons hadn’t been on the shopping list when I was there with my friends—but I vaguely recalled the place looking pretty well stocked.
    â€œParty shop?” Mom echoed. “Is that the name of the latest teen clothing store?”
    â€œNo, I mean an actual party store,” I said, headingin the direction I thought the place might be. “We’ll need some decorations for next weekend.”
    â€œParty?” Mom’s voice went sharp. “What party?”
    â€œYou didn’t tell Mom about the party?” Caitlyn asked. “Because I didn’t either.”
    Oops. Now that she mentioned it . . . “Our birthday party,” I said, barely managing to avoid adding a duh at the end. Knowing Mom, that wouldn’t go over well, and I didn’t want to have to buy all the party stuff out of my allowance money. I was saving up for a cute pair of jeans I had seen. “We meant to tell you—Megan’s parents offered to let us have it at their house. They have a pool.”
    Mom stopped short, causing the teenage couple walking behind us to veer around us. The guy shot us a dirty look and a muttered curse, which Mom ignored.
    â€œHold on,” she said, looking from me to Cait and back again. “I thought we agreed there wouldn’t be a party this year.”
    â€œNo, we didn’t,” I said. “We definitely didn’t agree. You said we’d talk about it later.”
    Just one more subject we were supposed to talk about later, I thought. But once again, I opted not to mention that part out loud.
    She frowned. “Look, I told you we could still do something special. How would you like to drive back to San Antonio for the day, have dinner at that Italian place you like so much?”
    â€œNo way.” I shook my head. “This is our birthday