The quiet of the kitchen was a relief, but I couldn’t hide forever. I gave myself the luxury of three deep breaths before heading back outside. Mia pressed a wine glass into my hand the second I was within reach.
We settled around the long picnic table, plates piled high. That’s when it hit me. Or rather, the absence of it did.
Jack reached over and added a spoonful of potato salad to Mia’s plate, then some coleslaw. Aunt Helen watched it happen. Her mouth opened slightly, like she was about to say something, then she closed it and went back to her meal.
I blinked. Looked at Mia, who seemed focused on her food, though I caught the tiny lift at the corner of her mouth.
Had that just... not happened? Helen Harris, the woman who’d spent years shaming Mia for her weight, had just watched someone pile food onto her plate and said… nothing?
Well fuck, I guess marriage was good for Mia in more ways than one.
“So Emily,” Aunt Jackie said, pulling my attention back. “What’s new with you?”
The question was barely out of Aunt Jackie’s mouth before Mia’s gaze shot to mine and she waggled her eyebrows at me.
Heat crept up my neck. I tried not to smile too big, but my mouth had other ideas. “Oh, you know. The usual.”
I couldn’t exactly say I’d been fucking my extremely hot neighbor to the point of exhaustion and that I couldn’t wait to do it again, could I?
“Are you sure about that?” Mia sing-songed. “Nothing at all interesting happening lately?”
My mother’s eyes narrowed slightly. “What’s this about?”
“Actually,” I said quickly, shooting Mia a look that promised retribution later. “I’ve been working on my scholarship application. For the art program I told you about?”
Aunt Jackie’s face lit up. “Oh honey, that’s wonderful! When do you hear back if?—”
My mother didn’t even look at me as she cut in. “Emily knows our thoughts on this, Jackie. It’s all well and good to have hobbies, but we think her time would be better spent on something sustainable.”
It was like I wasn’t even fucking there.
“She can hardly be a part-time PA to her cousin for the rest of her life, can she?”
The table went quiet. Even the crickets seemed to pause.
I stared down at my burger, that familiar shame creeping hot under my skin.
To my everlasting surprise, rescue came from Jack.
His voice was calm and firm, leaving my mom no space to argue. “Actually, the committee is very excited to see Emily’s application. They’ve received very positive feedback from the teachers at the classes she’s attending.”
The silence stretched over the table was thick and suffocating, until Mom cleared her throat.
“Oh, I see.” There was no denying the confusion in her voice. “Well, that’s something, then, I suppose.”
Phew.Jack’s eyes met mine briefly and he gave me a small nod.
“That’s wonderful, sweetheart!” Jackie jumped in quickly. “We’re all rooting for you. When do you find out?”
I swallowed hard. “Submission is just under two months away, and I’m not sure how long it takes after that to hear back.”
“Well, best of luck. I just know you’re going to knock their socks off.”
“Thanks, Aunt Jackie.”
The conversation shifted then, Uncle Jeremy launching into some story about a fishing trip, and the tension dissolved like sugar in hot tea.
Mia leaned over and pressed a kiss to Jack’s cheek, her eyes soft with affection.
