I felt Mae’s hand on my thigh underneath the table.
‘It’s OK,’ she murmured quietly so that only I could hear.
‘How are preparations going for this year’s winter formal, Gray?’ Myles asked loudly. ‘Everything on track?’
Dad sighed from his seat at the top of the table. ‘I hope so,’ he said slowly. ‘It’s hard, not being there to make sure everything is getting done that needs to be done.’
‘Don’t start asking him about work, please,’ Mom scolded. ‘I have enough trouble trying to stop him from worrying about the hotel as it is. Of course, I wouldn’thaveto worry, if Jonah would step up and fill in, at least while Gray recovers.’
I saw Anna nudge Myles gently with her shoulder and say something quietly. He cleared his throat.
‘I’m more than happy to help out with planning the formal, if you need a hand,’ he said. ‘Work is quiet at the moment. I have a lot of leave owing. If you need me to step in at the hotel and assist, I’m more than happy to do that.’
‘That’s kind of you to offer, Myles,’ Mom said, not giving Dad a chance to answer. ‘But you have your own business to run. Anna tells me there’s been talk of bringing you on as a managing partner and owner of the firm, now that Dennis Morris is looking to retire.’
Myles was a senior partner at the accountant’s firm in town, Morris and Associates. He’d started there as a junior, not long after marrying Anna, and worked his way up.
‘There’s been talk of it, yes,’ Myles agreed. ‘I’m not sure it’s what I want, though.’
Eleanor frowned. ‘Of course it’s what you want. It’s the next, logical step in your career.’
Myles opened his mouth to reply but she cut him off, turning to Jessica again.
‘Will you be attending the formal this year, Jessica?’
Jessica flicked a smile at Jonah before answering. ‘Hopefully. If someone asks me.’
‘I’m sure that won’t take long, once word gets out that you’re back in town,’ Eleanor said. Then she clapped her hands together as if a thought had just occurred to her. ‘You and Jonah should go together. For old times’ sakes. Remember the formal the year you both turned eighteen? That powder-blue dress you wore, Jessica. And Jonah, so handsome in your suit. The envy of the town, you were. You two really do make the most beautiful couple. Imagine the children you would have had.’
David choked on his water. Sophie started putting him on the back.
‘Jesus Christ, Mom,’ I heard Anna mutter. ‘Subtle much?’
‘Eleanor, that’s enough,’ Gray warned, his tone indicating she had gone too far. As far as I was concerned, that ship had sailed five minutes ago.
Unbelievably, Jessica looked at me and raised her shoulders. ‘I’m keen if you are? It could be nice to go together to the formal again.’
I pushed my chair back with a scrape and stood up, holding a hand out to Mae. ‘We’re leaving.’
‘Here we go,’ David said, lifting his wine glass and taking a large swig.
‘Hey, at least we made it to dessert this time,’ Anna replied. ‘Haven’t made it that far in a while. Who had twenty dollars on dessert? Was it you, Sophie?’
‘I had entrée,’ Myles said mournfully. ‘So, I’m out.’
‘Sit down, Jonah,’ my mother said in clipped tones. ‘You’re being rude. I’m sorry, Jessica. He hasn’t been himself since the two of you broke up.’
‘That’s bullshit,’ I retorted. ‘Look, I’m sorry too, Jessica, that my mother has dragged you here tonight as part of her weird little games. But you know as well as I do that we were lucky to last as long as we did. You’re a wonderful woman, and I’m sure you’ll find someone who can offer you the love that you deserve. But it’s not me.’ I turned a fierce look on my mother. ‘And if you can’t respect that, then I don’t need to stay here.’ I looked down at Mae. ‘Are you ready to go?’
She took my hand and stood up, placing her napkin gracefully down on the table next to her glass. ‘Thank you for a lovely evening.’
Mom ignored her. ‘You’re being dramatic, Jonah.’
‘Maybe, but I’m not going to let you disrespect either of us any longer.’
I led Mae out of the dining room, pausing to lay a hand on Dad’s shoulder on the way out. ‘I’ll see you soon.’
He nodded. He might not have said much all night, but his look of resignation told me he wasn’t surprised at the direction the evening had taken.
