"How are you feeling?"
Her Aunt sounded as if Diane had recently been cured of critical illness as if she suffered from impossibly frail health - if not physically, then emotionally, which was a greater insult. She gritted her teeth and prayed for calmness before she replied.
"I'm fine, I suppose you want to talk about your birthday. I'll be glad to send you the flowers you needed but of course, make sure to pay it on time." No need delaying the unavoidable. She preferred to deal with the unpleasantness now and be done with it.
"Well, yes …" Rose Go said, her disappointment rasping through the telephone lines. "I would really like it if we could have a family reunion this year. With your mom and your Aunt Cecille and Uncle Horace, it'd be awkward with you and your cousin …"
Diane's jaw stiffened. "We can have a real reunion then."
"Oh, Diane does that mean you're willing to put aside the past and reunite with Janice and …"
