“Thank you.”
“There’s one thing missing though.”
“Oh? What’s that? Not enough fried foods for your liking?”
“No.” I feel the heat of her insult on my face. “I meant music. Some nice background music.”
“Great idea.” Hudson jumps up from the table and makes a beeline for his large marble coffee table. Picking up one of three remote controls, he presses a few buttons, and soft, jazz starts filtering in and around us. I’d love to suggest something other than jazz because I don’t care for it. Not that it isn’t good music or anything. It was my dad’s favorite, so whenever I hear it, it makes me sad.
“That’s better.” I slather butter onto a croissant and reach for the cheese.
“Perhaps some fruit instead of the carbohydrates.” Mrs. Adler picks up a dish that looks like it could be crystal, then nods to her husband to pass it to me. I should argue and tell her I’d prefer the carbs, but I’m already exhausted. I’m just gonna let her have this one.
The four of us are eating quietly. That is until his mother says, “So. You were fired from McAllister?” right before she takes a dainty bite.
“Mother!” Hudson shouts. “That’s none of your concern.”
“Of course it’s my concern. She’s seen with you. That means she’s a reflection on all of us.”
Hudson snaps, “Maybe you should leave, Mother.”
“Hudson James Maxwell Adler. Do not speak to me in that tone.”
He stands, tossing down his napkin. “You’re inmyhome, mother. You came here unannounced and uninvited. Since you’ve gotten here, you’ve done nothing but insult my girlfriend. I’ve had it. You need to accept this entire situation, or there’s no need for us to see one another.”
Mrs. Adler lays her napkin on the table gently. Even that is elegantly done. Standing, she faces her son. “So, this is it? You’re choosing her,” She points at me. Not so elegantly. Rudely, actually. “Over me? Over your family?”
“Over you, yes. Brook has met Willa. She really likes her.”
Oh, God. I hate this. I don’t want to be the one that gets between Hudson and his mother, no matter how terrible she is.
“Is that so?”
“Dad?” Hudson turns in search of his father who has made his way into the kitchen. It’s all open concept so we can see him in there. He’s bent down, looking at my laptop.
“You graduated summa cum laude from University of Illinois?”
I guess he’s reading my resume. “Yes.”
“A state school,” Mrs. Adler points out. “Hudson when to Princeton.”
I smile at Hudson, then say to her, “Good for him.”
“And Loyola for his MBA.”
Feeling a bit confident, I wink at Hudson. “Wow. Impressive.”
Hudson’s face flushes just a tiny bit. “Thanks.”
Mr. Adler is still reading my resume while that’s all going on. “Accountancy and Strategic Business Development and Entrepreneurship?”
“Yes.”
“French?”
“Oui.” I laugh at my little joke. No one else does, however. Oh well.
Mr. Adler stands at his full height. His gaze directed at me. “What happened at McAllister?”
