Page 139 of Dangerous Encore
"And you're going to slow down after the wedding?"Momasks.
"No… it's not nineteen twenty. Women get married and work. They have kids and work. They have husbands who are stay at home dads. They do whatever they want." Seriously, how are my parents so trapped inthepast?
"A stay at home husband? Really? Is that what you want?"Momasks.
"If we can afford it and it's what Mal wants, sure. Why not?" I tear at the sides of my napkin. It's not like I actually expect Mom and Dad to be on board with the idea of a stay at home husband, but the judgmental look on Mom's face is stillfrustrating.
"That's sweet, baby, but I like working. I know you do too." Mal shoots my parents a serene smile. "You know what it's like, Judith. Even when family means everything to you, it's nice to have a joboutsidethat."
"It's good to get out of the house." Mom folds and refolds her napkin. "I'm glad you'll be working, Malcolm." She turns to me. "Especially if you're going to have a bigwedding."
"We're going to do something small," Iinsist.
"And your dress? Have you thought about a style?" she asks. "You're so thin. Are you eatingenough?"
I stuff the rest of my garlic bread in my mouth toanswer.
"It will be hard flattering such a narrow figure, but I'm sure Loretta has ideas. And there's padded bras. You want to look good in yourpictures."
Right.
I want tolookgood.
But not like Mom's ideaofgood.
Likemine.
I…
I stuff another piece of garlic bread in my mouth and try to get my thoughts inorder.
