"Taking some more Tylenol, huh?" Bethany asked Monica as they passed each other in the hall. Bethany was leading their class of three-year-olds to the playground.

"My cramps are killing me."

It was only a little bit of a lie. Her period was due any day. She was hungover from about two or three shots too many with Owen the night before.

They had one margarita each at a Mexican restaurant and then Monica thought it would be fun to take the party home. They ordered some burritos to-go and picked up a bottle of tequila from the liquor store.

"I saw some chamomile tea in the cupboard the other day. That might help, too."

"Thanks, Bethany."

Monica headed toward the break room. She found the tea and leaned against the counter waiting for the electric kettle to heat up.

Tabitha and Janet walked in and smiled at Monica. She smiled back, turned around and placed the unwrapped tea bag in her mug.

"I really hope Jasper's mother doesn't make a big deal out of the bouncy houses again this year," Janet said, searching in her purse.

Tabitha took her glasses off and cleaned the lenses.

"She can make such a fuss, can't she?"

Janet rolled her eyes. "Children are supposed to have fun. It's part of childhood. Honestly, Tabby, I'm always surprised every single day she brings in her kids and they're not all wound up in bubble wrap."

Tabitha chuckled through squinted eyes and put her glasses back on. "I'm not going to let one momma ruin bouncy houses for all the kids that go here. I promise you, Janet."

"All right," Janet said, rubbing her lotion into her hands and moving it up onto her elbows. "I've seen her eyes. They're sharp like an eagle's. Intense. She's just the type of person to ruin things, if you know what I mean."

"Yes, I do," Tabitha said. "Autumn Fest will not have any major hiccups this year."

Janet's eyes fluttered over Monica for a second.

"Remember those beautiful decorations Astrid put up last year?"

"Oh, Janet. Yes. Absolutely. The huge bright orange pumpkins and the multi-colored leaves. That girl could make anything out of tempera paint and recycled materials. And it all looked so darn good."

The kettle steamed fiercely and Monica unplugged it. She poured the hot water into her mug and remained with her back to the ladies.

Janet rested her hand on Tabitha's arm, lowering her voice. "I heard her parents are fighting over her body."

"What?" Tabitha exhaled.

"What to do with it. Her mother insists Astrid wanted to be cremated, but her father says his child must be buried properly, in a lot next to his mother's."

"Oh, that is so sad. I forgot her parents divorced not too long ago. She's the only child, right?"

"Right."

Monica swallowed hard and closed her eyes. She set her hands on either side of her mug, close enough to feel the heat but not so close to burn them.

"They're also fighting about her belongings. Her mother says her little house should remain as is in honor of her memory for at least a month or so. But the father, you know Astrid rented her house from him, wants everything out of there as soon as possible."

"Surely, he has his reasons."

The ladies carried on with their conversation. Monica began humming a tune. One of the ones Astrid would sing softly to herself in the mornings before the kids arrived in the room. Monica always thought she had sung it because Astrid was happy and looking forward to the day ahead, but she started to think otherwise.

She began to sing the song rather than hum it, though she was not aware of it.

"I wanted more
Than life could ever grant me
Bored by the chore
Of saving face

Today is the greatest day I've ever known..."

Tabitha and Janet looked at Monica as she walked out of the room with her hot cup of tea in her hands and her head down, singing to herself in a satisfied daze.