Page 21 of Two Friends in Marriage
Lynne leans toward her husband and whispers something in his ear.
“Ah, why not?”Howie says.“I’m not pressuring them.Just saying.I have free time to help with babies now.”
“I’m not having children,” Leo grunts.
“Okay.You can learn how to play golf with me.I always wanted to try.”
Leo opens his mouth—presumably to reject that idea—but before he can speak, the server arrives with our steaks.
“Jane, can I talk to you?”Lynne asks after we exit the restaurant.
Before I can answer, she leads me a few steps away from everyone else, and my heart rate kicks up.I feel like I’m about to get in trouble.
“Howie and I think you should go on a honeymoon.”
I must look a little shocked, because she says, “Don’t worry, this has nothing to do with us wanting grandchildren.”
I hadn’t made that connection in my mind.I probably look even more shocked now.
“I know you’re being careful with your money,” she continues, “but you didn’t have a fancy wedding, either.You deserve a little trip this summer, yes?We will pay—”
“No,” I say.“You don’t need—”
“Alittletrip,” she emphasizes.“We’re not paying for you to go to Paris.Well, maybe Paris, Ontario.I’m not sure what’s there.We just thought you could have a nice weekend away.A few nights in a bed and breakfast?I have some picked out…” She takes out her phone.
I wonder if she’s had so much time to do this because she’s retired, even if it’s only been a week.
“You should ask Evan,” I say.
He ought to take the lead when it comes to his parents, right?Besides, I don’t have much experience with trying to refuse things from older relatives, and I want his parents to like me.I fear that if this conversation goes on much longer, I will have agreed to numerous things that I certainly don’t need.
“Aiyah!”Lynne says.“I already did.He said no.”
Oh my God.Does she think I’m the weakest link?Is she two seconds away from stuffing an envelope of cash into my hand?I’m fine with accepting fruit and leftovers—I truly appreciate the thought—but this is different.I don’t want to feel like I’m in debt to them.
To my relief, Evan appears at my side and puts his arm around me.“Mom!As I told you, you don’t need to pay for a honeymoon.Please tell me you didn’t make a nonrefundable reservation.”
She clucks her tongue.“I’m notthatinterfering.But you should go on a trip.”
“Why are you so set on this?”
Lynne huffs and mutters something in Cantonese, but I don’t speak the language.
Then Howie joins us.“You need to put effort into your marriage from the very beginning.Don’t forget about the romance.”
I’m moderately horrified.Why are they actually saying this out loud?
Now it feels like everyone has gathered around.Jon is laughing.Max is frowning at Evan, for reasons I don’t understand.
“Mom,” Evan says in a firm tone that I’ve never heard from him before, though he still has a smile on his face, “really, we’re fine.You and Dad should go somewhere with the money instead.You have lots of time and, as you’ve reminded us, no grandchildren.”
Lynne seems to accept this…for now.
We say our goodbyes and head to the car.On the drive home, I ask Evan if he’s worried that his parents have become suspicious about our relationship again.
“I don’t think so,” he says.
“What about Max?”
