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She’s my special guest.
Being alone in the kitchen gave me time to think. To plan. To prepare.
By the time six rolls around, I have everything ready. The food. The table.Myself.
A few minutes after six, Mom shows up, entering the house as if she lives here.
She doesn’t.
She lives withhim, in another life far detached from the family shecreated. Dad and Jace stand when she enters, and I greet her with a kiss on the cheek that causes bile to rise to my throat. Dad and Jace move from the living room to the entryway, and her eyes widen at Jace’s presence. Mom turns to me, saying, “You didn’t tell me we’d have a guest.” She doesn’t introduce herself to Jace, doesn’t shake his hand or ask how he is. She just turns her nose up at him and focuses on Dad.
He kisses her cheek, and I wonder if it makes him feel as sick as it does me. “How did you manage to get the night off work?” he asks her.
“It’s my night off, but I worked overtime last night. Long shift. Couldn’t drive home, so I slept at the hospital.” Lies. All of them. “I didn’t know you’d be home.”
They really must not communicate if she doesn’t even know his schedule. But then again, he doesn’t know hers, either. Not herrealone. Maybe Jace was right. Maybe it’s truly over between them, and Dad’s sticking around for me. Clearly, he doesn’t realize how much more damaging that is than if we’d just left. Just the two of us. We could’ve survived on our own. Been much happier.
“Hi, Mrs. Greene,” Jace says, his hand out for her. “It’s nice to meet you…properly.” There’s a hint of disdain in the last part, and I’m sure Mom can pick up on it too.
I’m surprised she’s not rolling her eyes when she shakes his hand, mutters a “Hello.”
“Everything’s ready in the kitchen,” I announce, and Mom and Dad make their way there.
Jace stays behind with me, waits until they’re no longer in view before turning to me, his brow furrowed. “Are we doing this tonight?” he asks.
He saidwe. Me and him. Together. And, God, do I love him for that.
I nod.
“A little warning would’ve been good.”
“Sorry,” I say. “I wasn’t sure if you’d want to be here for it, but I think I need you here… for me.”
“I’d walk through fire for you. You know this.”
Our lips have barely met before Mom calls out, “Will the food be getting cold, Harlow? Should I serve myself?”
Jace sighs, and I can already see his frustration building. I take his hand in mine. “Whatever happens, just try not to let what she says get to you. I need you to be my calm tonight.”
Jace sits at the table next to my mom, opposite my dad, and none of them say a word while I load their plates. The air is thick, filled with tension, and everyone seems to struggle to exist in the same room.
Everyone but me.
Mom waits until the plates are served and I’m pouring drinks to finally break the silence. “So, Jace… why don’t you tell me about yourself?”
Jace adjusts in his seat, not out of discomfort, but more in preparation. He doesn’t answer her, though. He just gives off that same aloof, passive appearance from before I truly knew him. And, because there’s no better time than the present, I answer for him. “Jace and I have decided that I’m going to follow him to whatever college he’s going to.”
“Really?” Mom and Dad reply at the same time. But one comes from excitement, and the other is mocking, and I’ll let you guess which one is which.
“Welp,” Mom says, sitting back in her chair. She hasn’t touched her food. No one has. “All I can say isgood luck to ya, Jace.”
“I don’t need luck,” he says, his tone flat. “I have Harlow.”
Mom sighs, and I bet she wishes she were anywhere but here. Sucks to be her. “So, what school are you going to?”
“Enough about Jace,” I cut in, pouring her a drink. I wait until I’m seated at the table to add, “Why don’t you tell him about yourself, Mom? Maybe start with how long you’ve been fucking Uncle Roy.”
Dad’s eyes snap to me, then to my mom, and I hate this for him. I hate that I’ve had to resort tothis, but I won’t allow him to protect her anymore. “My brother, Marcie? Really?” he seethes. “My ownfuckingbrother!”