The winter reception was held at the harbor hotel, the same ballroom where I'd stood beside Clara months earlier. This time, she was expected to speak about the foundation's youth program.
Margaret had sent an invitation addressed to Grant, Nora, and Clara. There was no mention of me.
Clara saw the envelope at breakfast. "I'm not going if Willa can't come."
"Do you want to go?" Grant asked.
"I want to speak. I want people to hear about the program."
"Then you should go," Mom said.
Clara looked at me. "Not without you."
I hated how much that meant to me. "You can't let your aunt decide whether you get to do something you care about."
"She's already deciding."
"Then don't let her make you miss it."
"I don't want you to be left out again."
"I can handle being left out. I can't hand
