energy all around her, even though the skies were lovely and blue.
It got worse at lunch. She tore into her sandwich thinking that
her headache was the result of low blood sugar, but she was wrong.
Jerry had packed her favorite sandwich?smoked turkey, green
apple, and brie on a baguette?but she couldn?t force herself to take
more than a bite. She spat it out.
?Your dad make another dud?? Claire asked. When Jerry had
first partnered up with Kate he?d started experimenting with creative
lunches. The Vegemite and Cucumber Disaster of Freshman
Year was legendary at their table.
?No, it?s good old number three. I just can?t eat it,? Helen said,
shoving it away. Claire gleefully picked up the remainder and started
eating it.
27/395
?Mmm, ?is really good,? she mumbled around a full mouth. ?Us a
?atter??
?I just don?t feel right,? Helen said.
Claire stopped chewing and gave her a worried look.
?I?m not sick. You can go ahead and swallow,? Helen assured her
quickly. She saw Matt approaching and chirped, ?Hey!? trying to
make up for that morning.
He was deep in conversation with Gretchen and Zach and didn?t
respond, but still came to his habitual spot at the geek table. Both
Gretchen and Zach were so engrossed in what they were saying
that they didn?t notice that they had wandered into geek territory.
?I heard they were movie stars in Europe,? Zach was saying.
?Where did you hear that?? Matt asked, incredulous. ?That?s
ridiculous.?
?I heard from at least two other people that Ariadne was a model.
She?s certainly pretty enough,? Zach argued passionately, hating to