“Yes, Mother. Perhaps you can talk some sense into Lilian. She’s still wasting her life at that clinic when she could be doing so much more.”
My eyes flutter closed at my mother’s words. To some, it may sound as if she only wishes me to reach my full potential or some bullcrap like that. But no. To Alice Chapman, the fact that I had the audacity to go into physical therapy as opposed to a more “worthwhile” profession, is a direct insult. I believe her words to me the day I was accepted into the program wereif you insist on this foolish escapade, couldn’t you at least have become a doctor?
Yes, anything other than the top three — lawyer, doctor, engineer — is seen as not good enough by my mom. Never mind the impact I have on people’s health and well-being, or the many years of intense schooling I had to undertake to get to where I am. My job means nothing to my mother. Particularly because it doesn’t benefit Chapman Consulting in any way.
“I’m glad you came, child.”
We sit down on one of Aunt Dora’s stiff couches.
“Your blouse is lovely, my dear. Those colours set off your skin tone perfectly.” Nana takes my hand, placing it in her lap and squeezing it lovingly.
“Thank you. Can I get you anything to drink?”
Nana snorts delicately. “Oh, Lily. As if your aunt would dare let one of us serve ourselves. No, no. Watch this.” Nana lifts her hand, and an instant later the same person who handed me a glass of wine materializes from nowhere.
“Yes, ma’am?”
“My granddaughter and I need a refill on our drinks, if you please.”
A slight bow and they disappear. “What the heck was that?”
“That was your aunt wanting to seem far more fancy than she actually is. Who needs waitstaff at a bridal shower? It’s over the top.”
This is why I adore Nana. She says it like it is and doesn’t care who hears. Sure enough, a couple of women in our close vicinity are staring at her, shocked that someone would dare critique my aunt that way.
Nana catches their gaze and narrows her eyes at them. They aren’t family, so they must be work colleagues or acquaintances. Heaven forbid the Chapmans have friends.
The server returns with a fresh glass of wine for each of us. I’d barely started the one I had, but it’s whisked away before I can say anything.
“I know this isn’t easy for you, my dear, but I’m proud of you for being here.” Nana’s voice is quieter than normal, and I know those words are meant for my ears alone. She’s the only reason I did come, and the only reason I’ll subject myself to the spectacle that will be Marnie’s wedding.
Unfortunately, I can’t keep her by my side the entire time. With one last squeeze of my hand, she stands up from the couch. “Excuse me, Lily. I need to pay a visit.”
I smile up at her and nod. “I’ll be fine.”
“Of course, you will be.”
I watch her walk off in the direction of the small powder room down the hall from the kitchen. For a brief moment, I relax, sipping my wine. But that moment is over far too soon.
“You actually came.”
My cousin’s nasally voice sends my eyes rolling into the back of my head. I know I’m meant to be here to celebrate her, but truthfully, I was hoping to avoid her. I never asked to be placed in competition with Marnie, but she embraced that message fully from day one. It’s exhausting, really.
“Yes, Marnie. I did.” I turn to face my cousin, who sits down primly on a chair across from me, crossing her ankles and folding her hands in her lap. “Are you having a good bridal shower?”
She sniffs, her nose tilted up in the air. If you look up “entitled snob” in the dictionary, I think a picture of Marnie is right there in the definition. “Of course. It’s wonderful to be surrounded by everyone that matters in my life, all of them here to celebrate my impending nuptials.”
I bite back the retort I want to say. It wouldn’t serve any purpose other than to make me feel good. And I’ve learned over time that with my family, the less I stir the pot, the better the chances of escaping them unscathed.
“Great.”
Marnie leans forward slightly. “I realize this is a distasteful subject, but I must ask. The caterer at the hotel needs final numbers and I’m trying to complete the seating plan. You have found a date for the wedding, haven’t you?”
My stomach sinks. Briefly, my mind flashes back to Kat’s offer to ask one of her brothers, but I just as quickly dismiss it. I can’t bring myself to do that. Subject the men that are like brothers to me to my family? Not in a million years.
You don’t see Jude as a brother…
I am definitelynotgoing there. Nope, no way. I’m not even entertaining that idea. God, I can see it now, if I dared to ask him if he wanted to come. He’d probably laugh at me. Or just look at me like I’m crazy, and I get enough of that from my family.
