"Trevor, darling, you look tired. Are you getting enough sleep?"
Trevor, who had barely spoken three words since they'd been seated, kept his eyes fixed on his plate.
"I'm fine, Mother."
"You should be taking those vitamin supplements I gave you. You, too, Celia. You can’t be too careful with your health, especially with that drafty venue you chose for the reception. I hope you told all the guests to bring a sweater. I suggested the Hilton in Truett, and frankly, I think it would have been better. I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
Celia pushed her hair behind her ear, her lips pressed together tightly as if to keep from speaking. Her sister’s gaze moved from the table toward the exit of the room. Was she thinking about making a run for it? Kelly would give her a fighting chance by throwing things in the path behind her should anyone try to chase her down.
"The salmon here is excellent," Trevor’s father, Howard, offered mildly, the first words he'd spoken since commenting on the weather when they'd arrived.
Kelly took a sip of water, studying her sister over the rim of her glass. They'd been raised by the same parents, in the same house with the same rules, yet they'd turned out so differently. Kelly had rebelled, escaped, and built walls. Celia had bent, accommodated, and sought approval. Neither approach had been without its costs.
The waiter arrived to refill their water glasses, providing a brief moment of reprieve. Kelly seized the opportunity tocatch Celia's eye, raising her eyebrows in silent question. Celia responded with the briefest shake of her head and a tight smile that clearly communicated.
Don’t.
“Everything okay?”
The question was whispered into her ear by Ben, who was currently looking at her with a concerned expression. This time it wasn’t her needing the help, though. Celia needed it, and Kelly didn’t know what to do.
Do I put that battleaxe in her place or keep my mouth shut?
From the look Celia had given her, it seemed her sister was a fan of the former option.
“It’s fine,” Kelly assured him in a soft tone. “I’m just not super hungry, I guess. It’s all good.”
He didn’t believe her, but he didn’t say so out loud. That was another thing she appreciated about Ben. He knew when to keep his peace and when to speak his mind.
Maybe I should take a lesson.
It wasn’t easy, but for the next hour, Kelly barely said a word. Not that anyone really spoke much to her, to be honest. Marjorie liked hearing her own voice, and along with her father and mother, they dominated the conversation, mostly about days gone by and how kids didn’t know how good they had it. Even Rob couldn’t get a toehold into the conversation and simply gave up, eating his filet glumly. He didn’t like it when he wasn’t the center of attention.
Howard managed to get in a question to Ben about what he did for a living, and she listened fascinated as he described the data analysis tool that his business had developed. Her father listened intently, as well, although he didn’t comment too much about it, simply nodding along as if he completely understood all of it. The whole thing sounded incredibly complex, like something out of a science fiction movie or book.
That conversation hadn’t lasted long, however, as Marjorie had corralled the attention back to her as she complained to the waiter about the salmon being dry.
“Excuse me,” Celia said, levering from her chair. “I’m going to go freshen up.”
“You haven’t ordered dessert yet,” Trevor protested.
“Just order me whatever you’re getting,” Celia replied with a smile. “I’m happy with anything.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
“I think I’ll powder my nose, too,” Kelly said, placing her napkin beside her plate. “Ben, order me whatever you think I’d like.”
“Chocolate it is,” Ben joked.
“Smart man,” Celia said, although their parents didn’t say anything in agreement.
Following Celia into the ladies' room, Kelly waited until the heavy door swung shut behind them before speaking. Celia immediately busied herself with her lipstick, avoiding Kelly's gaze in the mirror.
They appeared to be alone, but she couldn’t guarantee it would stay that way. If she planned to say anything to her sister, she needed to get to it. She pulled her own lipstick from her purse and applied a fresh coat.
“You have your hands full with Trevor’s mom. She’s really something. Is she always like that, or is she stressed about the wedding?
Her sister didn’t reply immediately, continuing to apply a fresh coat of pale pink lipstick.
