“That’s not why I don’t do relationships,” Mallory said in a stern voice, one she hoped indicated this wasn’t up for debate. Everyone at the table must’ve heard the shift in her tone because they all looked at her and waited for further explanation. “The reason I’ve never had a serious relationship is because I’m waiting for something special. Something real. And if you want to put the blame for my perpetual singledom on anyone, then put it on mom and dad’s shoulders. They’re the reason I’m still holding out.”
“Us?” Callie balked. “Why’s it our fault?”
“Because you two are soulmates,” Mallory said. “You were made for each other. I grew up in a house with two people who were madly in love and that set my expectations for finding a life partner high.” She smiled at her older siblings. “You two were lucky enough to meet wonderful people when you were relatively young, but I haven’t been as blessed. I’m still searching, but I refuse to settle for anything less than what was modeled to us growing up. In a way, you’re right in saying that I prefer to be alone, if the alternative is settling for anything less than what mom and dad have.”
A silence filled the room, and Mallory knew she’d successfully shocked everyone. It felt good. She smiled down into her wine glass, proud that she’d successfully shut down any more comments on her love life—or lack thereof.
When she looked up, however, and surveyed the shocked faces of those at the table, she saw something she hadn’t expected. Her mom and dad weren’t looking at her anymore.They were staring at each other with pale expressions—as if they might get sick.
Chapter 4
During the rest of the meal, Mallory sipped her decaf coffee and listlessly picked at her cinnamon cake, musing over the way her parents had reacted. After she’d revealed why she avoided relationships, Dot started to cry, and Becca rushed into the dining room to ask her mother about dessert—leaving no room for discussion about her parents’ strange response. Although everyone else had already moved on and the room buzzed with excited conversation, Mallory stayed quiet, her mind racing with worry.
It wasn’t until she was sitting on the back porch later that night with her siblings that Ariel brought her back to reality.
“Hello?” Her sister waved a hand in front of Mallory’s face. “Are you listening?”
“What?” Mallory blinked and shook her head. “What were you saying?”
“That answers your question. She wasn’t listening,” Taylor confirmed and smirked. “She’s been in a weird mood since dinner.”
“Sorry,” Mallory said, “I’m a little distracted…”
“I know my story about having to pull over before Micah puked all over the backseat isn’t exactly riveting, but I thought it’d at least hold your attention a little.” Ariel laughed. “Guess it doesn’t compare to whatever’s on your mind tonight.”
“I’m just thinking about dinner.” She glanced down at her hands and sighed.
“What about it?” Taylor asked.
“Well—Did you guys notice the way mom and dad looked at each other after I said all that stuff about finding the right person?”
“I wasn’t really paying attention to them,” he said. “You were delivering such a passionate speech, I thought it was best to giveyouall my attention.”
“Yeah, same here,” Ariel chimed in. “I was mostly just looking at you. Why?”
Mallory shrugged. “They just seemed… uncomfortable? Or at least, that’s the first word that comes to mind. Nervous… that’s another word that fits. They were so pale suddenly too...”
“Huh.” Taylor placed a hand under his chin and leaned forward. “I didn’t notice that at all.”
“Maybe I’m reading too much into it…”
“They were probably just stunned by how upfront you were about something that you usually keep private,” Ariel said. “I know I was. Where’d all of that come from anyway?”
“Are you kidding me?” Mallory scoffed. “It came from you guys! You were giving me such a hard time for not having a lot of serious relationships and I was sick of just sitting there and taking all your criticism. But I don’t want to talk about me right now, I want to talk about mom and dad! Mom, as you both know, has been acting weird ever since she decided to sponsor Sasha, but now dad seems to be jumping on the weird train as well. I get this feeling like there’s something they’re not telling us.”
“Like what?” Ariel furrowed her brow.
“Like anything!” Mallory looked to Taylor for some back-up. “Mom didn’t tell us about taking in Sasha and the baby, so who knows what other secrets she’s keeping? I know for a factshe lied about what happened this morning when I found her in the master bedroom.”
Taylor rubbed his hands together, considering her words. “It’s not that I disagree with you. I’m just not sure how much of what we’re feeling is based in reality, and how much is us just being paranoid because we already feel like they lied to us. Or at least weren’t fully honest with us. But instead of throwing around accusations, I say we do a little bit of our own research.”
“Yes!” Mallory nearly leapt out of her chair, she was so happy to hear this. “That’s what I think too. We need to do more digging! We have a right to know who this person is that’s living with our aging, naive parents.”
Ariel rolled her eyes. “They’re not naive. Why are the two of you so dead set on twisting this good deed into something bad?”
“We’re just trying to figure out if there’s a reason to be worried.” Mallory gave her sister a look. “And I know you might not believe this, but I hope we don’t find anything. I hope Sasha is exactly who she says she is and that nobody’s lying or scamming. That would be a win for everyone.”
Taylor sucked air through his teeth and cringed. “I don’t know about that. In my, albeit limited experience, when people leave out pertinent details, it’s because they have something to hide. I can’t tell you how many times a client of mine has sworn there was nothing else I needed to know, and then bam, the day before we go into trial, they have a list of things they suddenly need to tell me. It’s always information that changes our entire case and makes me question why I got into this field in the first place.”
