Attend or not?

I teach high school in a little northeastern U.S. community where I was born and raised. I'm one of a handful of high school grads who remain involved in local community events and politics. My friends joke that everyone in our town of 28,000 is "three degrees from Lacey".

My 30th high school reunion is coming up and five of us locals have taken on the job, as we do every five or ten years, of hosting the event. It will take place about five blocks from my home.

I've just received the response list, and my ex-N is "committed to attend". He lives about 100 miles away and never attended one before. The only thing I asked of him when I left three months ago is to NOT attend the event.

For the first time in a month or more, I feel awful. I'm kinda even shaking a bit. I've blocked him on virtually every means of communication and I've had days where I've hardly thought of him. I'm presently dating a nice guy who knows little about the N. Until today, the N hasn't factored into my world and he had become a faint presence that I ignored virtually all the time. I even began to get to the stage of indifference.

Now, I'm mad and disappointed that he'll attempt to ruin an otherwise rare and long-awaited event. I'd hate not seeing those with whom I still keep contact. Yet, I can tell by my physical reaction to seeing this news that it can't be good for me to go.

My ticket is paid for, the hair appointment has been made, and I've bought the perfect outfit. I'm thinking of hiring a huge guy to stand beside me and play interference if he tries to talk to me. Any thoughts?