Love, Aubrey

The next day, Aubrey arrives at Amy Carlisle’s office for their meeting. She runs into class troublemaker Marcus and thinks that if he’s the kind of kid who sees Ms. Carlisle, clearly Aubrey shouldn’t need to see her. When it’s her turn, Aubrey steps inside Ms. Carlisle’s office. Ms. Carlisle asks Aubrey to call her “Amy” and invites Aubrey to sit down. She describes the purpose of their meetings, explaining how sometimes, it’s easier for people to talk about serious things with a grown-up who isn’t family. Amy admits to knowing a bit about Aubrey’s situation. 

Amy asks Aubrey about her life. She stresses the importance of Aubrey keeping up with her schoolwork, which will help her feel more grounded. Aubrey agrees to do this, but she thinks most of what Amy says is pretty dumb. At the end of their session, Amy gives Aubrey a written reminder for their next appointment. On Aubrey’s way out, Amy invites Aubrey to take some M&Ms from a jar on her desk. Aubrey declines.

After school, Gram asks Aubrey to watch the spaghetti water she’s left to bring to boil on the stove while she goes to shower. Not long after, the phone rings. Eventually Aubrey musters the courage to pick up the phone. It’s a woman’s voice she doesn’t recognize. The identifies herself as Aubrey’s “Aunt Janet.” Aubrey is confused—she doesn’t have an Aunt Janet—but the woman explains she’s an old college friend of Mom’s. Just then, Gram comes running and picks up the phone. Her voice fills with relief and happiness as she speaks to the woman on the phone.  

At last, Gram hangs up the phone and shares the big news: she knows where Mom is. “That’s nice,” Aubrey replies dully. Gram explains that Aunt Janet lives in Colorado. Mom had arrived there by car, claiming to be driving through on a “girl’s adventure.” Janet hadn’t seen or even heard from Mom in ages and was glad to see her, but she gradually realized that something was wrong. Janet eventually learned that Mom had left Aubrey behind, so she found Mom’s address book and called Gram. Gram continues, explaining how Uncle David is going to bring Mom back to Virginia so she can get some help from a doctor there.

At the bus stop the next morning, Bridget comments that Aubrey looks like she didn’t sleep well. Aubrey admits that they found Mom. Bridget asks if this is a good thing, but Aubrey says she doesn’t know. Suddenly, Bridget pries Aubrey’s backpack away from her and discovers the sock full of money Aubrey packed that morning. She correctly guesses Aubrey’s plan to return to Virginia so she can be there waiting for Mom when she returns. Bridget tells Aubrey she can’t do that, but Aubrey is stubborn.

At lunch, Aubrey goes outside to the bike rack. She finds an unlocked bike and formulates a plan to ride it to the train station and catch a train back home. Amy intercepts her and asks her to come back inside to talk. Reluctantly, Aubrey follows. In Amy’s office, Amy asks Aubrey what’s going on. But before they can talk much, the secretary appears in the door and explains that Gram is there to take Aubrey home. When Aubrey asks how Gram found out about her plans, Gram explains that Bridget feigned being sick so she could call home and explain the situation to her mom.

Then, Gram tells Aubrey that she talked to Mom today. Mom kept apologizing, over and over again. Gram wonders if maybe Aubrey would like to talk to Mom, and Aubrey at last admits she would like to—a lot.

At home, Gram calls Aunt Janet, who says Mom will call back in a few minutes. Shortly after, the phone rings. Aubrey picks up and hears Mom’s voice. Aubrey is too shocked to speak at first, even as Mom starts to sob, apologizing repeatedly. Aubrey hangs up the phone and starts to cry. Gram hugs her.

Later, a figure pushes Aubrey’s bedroom door open—it’s Bridget. Aubrey invites her inside and promises she’s not mad. Bridget apologizes anyway, but she explains that she just had to tell on Aubrey. She was worried.

The next day at lunch, Aubrey sees Marcus sitting alone and suggests she and Bridget sit with him. The girls approach Marcus’s table, and Aubrey asks if they can sit with him. “Welcome, welcome!” Marcus says in loud voice. Then, he returns “to playing the imaginary drums on his lunch tray.” They struggle to make conversation at first, then Marcus delights the girls by shooting a geyser of orange soda out of his soda can.