There's Always Plan B by Susan Mallery Page B

she doesn’t, then we’ll be moving somewhere else. But until we know otherwise, we’re assuming we’re staying.”
    â€œEasy for you to say. Your life isn’t destroyed.”
    Tiffany folded her arms over her chest and stared out the window. Hard to believe this was the same girl who had, only a few nights earlier, wanted to sleep in her mother’s bed. She’d worried that Tiffany was growing up so fast. Maybe she should worry she wasn’t growing up fast enough.
    â€œI’m working through the last of the numbers this morning, then I have to talk to your grandmother. As soon as we know, you’ll know.”
    Tiffany didn’t say anything, but her folded arms and closed expression more than communicated her displeasure. Carly knew it was going to get a whole lot worse with her daughter before it got better. Tiffany had never changed schools before, and while Carly wanted to believe the transition would be smooth, she had her doubts.
    Funny how knowing a situation had the potential to be difficult didn’t make it any more pleasant when it occurred.
    She pulled up in front of the high school and stared at the familiar building. Wings had been added on each end, nearly doubling it in size, but even with the addition and the two separate buildings behind the main one, it was still much smaller than the school Tiffany had attended in Santa Monica.
    â€œThis is it?” the teen asked in disbelief. “What are there, like twelve students?”
    â€œI’m sure there are at least twenty,” Carly said as she turned off the car and unfastened her seat belt. “Come on. Let’s get you registered. I called last week and the office already had your transcripts, so that will help.”
    â€œNothing’s going to help,” Tiffany muttered.
    Carly ignored that and walked toward the main entrance. She remembered everything about this school—she’d attended it herself. More years ago than she could count, she’d been thrilled to finally be in high school. It had seemed so mature and exciting. Some of the seniors had been close to eighteen. The senior guys all had deep voices and a lot had beards or mustaches.
    Carly smiled as she recalled clinging to Maribel as both of them had stared at all the older guys. It had been like waking up on a different planet—an exciting one filled with possibilities. She and her friend had spent that first lunch period walking around the campus, figuring out where things were. One of the seniors had actually smiled at them and said hi. Carly had a feeling she and Maribel had shrieked and run off in the opposite direction.
    Hard to believe she’d ever been that innocent and silly. Good times, she thought wryly.
    She led the way to the administration desk. None of the staff looked familiar, which made sense. She’d been out of high school nearly…
    Carly did the math, redid it, then groaned. Nearly twenty-two years. Was that possible? No way. She wasn’t that old, was she? Apparently she was. Talk about depressing.
    â€œMay I help you?” the young woman behind the desk asked as Carly leaned against the counter.
    â€œI’m here to register my daughter. Her transcripts were sent ahead. I called last week to confirm.”
    The woman smiled. “Of course. Tiffany Spencer.”
    Tiffany shuffled up to the counter and gave the heavy sigh of a child being punished by horrible parents.
    â€œI’m new,” she said with as much cheerfulness as those facing certain death in the Spanish Inquisition.
    â€œI know settling in to a new school can be difficult, but you’ll do fine, honey,” the woman said. “I’m Jenny. I work here in the office. Let me get your file and we’ll figure out what classes you’re taking. Oh, and you’ll want to meet with Mrs. Beecham, the girls’ vice principal. Just this one time,” Jenny added with a wink. “You don’t