James says and does nothing, but Cynthia shifts in her seat. “Aiden, you should think-”
“No, Mum. No!” Marty is shouting now. “Whatever it is you're going to say, no. I can do my own thinking and my own decision-making. And that's what I am deciding for the next twenty-four hours.”
“Marty, you don't need to shout,” I say.
His dark eyes are on me. “Sometimes I do. Because sometimes people don't listen to me,” he says as he turns to his mother.
“That’s enough, son,” James says, and his hand finds his wife's again.
“Come on, Da. You know what it's like. What she's like. I'm twenty-four years old now. I've not been a kid for a long time.”
“No, you're not, which is all the more reason you should be behaving more respectfully.” James' voice is very different now. All the warmth is gone.
“I'll start being respectful to her when she showsmea little respect,” Marty seethes, and I pull my eyes away from how sharp the edges of his jaw are.
“You're embarrassing yourself in front of Jenna,” his mother bites out.
“Jesus,” Marty laughs in disbelief. “I’m not the one embarrassing myself, you are! Tell her, Jenna.”
I find myself needing to groan as I exhale. “Honestly, Marty. You are a little bit,” I say.
“What?”
“I know you're all high on the energy in the kitchen, and I know there are a lot of things going on in your head and heart right now, but you do need to calm down. Just take a breath,” I say.
“I do not need to... I’m fed up of being treated like a child!” he exclaims.
“I understand that.” I keep my voice low, hoping he’ll do the same as nearby tables are looking at us now. “I understand how it feels.”
“Do you?” Marty says, turning that angry tone on me. “Do you really? I mean, it’s not like you’ve had to answer to a parent for a long time.”
His words pull my shoulders back and make my back straighten, uncomfortably so.
“Okay, I’m done.” I stand, picking up my bag. “I have really enjoyed this evening, for the most part, but I don't need to be involved in someone else's family drama tonight. And Marty, I think you should think about that too. Just go back into the kitchen and enjoy yourself, and then come and see me... tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?” He looks horrified.
“Yes, tomorrow, Marty. We'll have the day together, but I think tonight I need to be alone,” I say even though it feels like a lie. I step closer to him, rise and kiss the corner of his mouth and stroke his cheek. “Good luck tonight. Thank you for helping my brother out.” I turn again to his parents and sister. “Thank you so much for dinner tonight. It was a pleasure to meet you.”
I turn and walk away in something like a hurry, however it’s not fast enough.
“Look at what you did, Aiden.” I hear his mother say in that hard-edged critical voice I've heard one too many times.
And just like that, I'm not done. I swivel back and step to the end of the table. All their eyes land on me but I am looking only at his mother.
“Just so you know, Cynthia,Marty is one of the most mature men I've met. I don't know if it's your parenting or the experience he had with Arnie, or both, butI don't think he lacks maturity. Or self-awareness. It's my impression that he really does know what he wants in life and with all due respect, I think all your lives would be much easier and simpler if you learned to trust in that, to trust him. You should be incredibly proud of him. You raised a brilliant young man.”
Cynthia's eyes fill with tears again and I suspect her lips are pulled into her mouth because she wants to stem their flow.
“Thank you, Jenna,” Marty says, and I can see his chin is lifted now, his shoulders squarer.
“You're welcome, Marty,” I say, turning my body to his. “But while I'm dishing out unwanted advice, I also have some for you. Please stop being a dick to your mother. It’s not a good look on you, and she doesn’t deserve it.”
And without waiting to see how the shock settles on Marty's face, I turn around and walk to my villa without looking back.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Jenna
