Page 72 of Fathers of the Bride
“You don’t have to be a racist to do racist things; you don’t have to be a homophobe to do something homophobic.”
“Okay, that’s too confusing. I’m either a horrible person or I’m not.”
“I’m not here to decide about your character. I’m only here to guide you toward better choices.”
“I have gay friends. I have Black friends. I have gay Black friends.”
“That’s very nice,” Jeffery said. “When you subtract the friends who sell you things, how many are left?”
Pudge fumed.
Lissa rushed in again to fill the void, “What’s in the cookies? Is that white chocolate?”
I decided to ignore Lissa since she would probably ask for the recipe next, and giving out free recipes was not something I liked to do.
“None of this really matters. Whether you’re involved in the wedding or not is up to Kelly.”
“Well, yes, we know that. It’s just, well, we thought if you suggested we take on a bit more she might change her mind.”
“Why would I do that?”
“We’ll pay.”
“Pudge,” Jeffery said, lips pursed.
“Stop trying to make me feel ashamed of having money. I’m trying to be generous.”
“No, you’re trying to use money to control people and events.”
“Well, of course I’m using money to control people. What do you think money is for?”
“No,” I said to Pudge.
“What do you mean, no?” she asked.
“I mean you had your shot at the engagement party, and you turned it into a racially offensive circus. So, no. If I have anything to say about it, you’re not getting near my daughter’s actual wedding.”
Pudge stood up. Jeffery stood with her. As soon as Lissa realized they were leaving, she gulped down the rest of her iced tea and plunked the rest of the cookies into her Kate Spade bag.
30
Andrew Lane
“When do we tell her?”I rolled over in bed and asked Miles. It was a week after the engagement party. I’d gotten myself a suite at the Maplewood Apartments which specialized in short term, mostly business leases. Not that I’d been there much. Things were going well with my husband, to the point where I began to feel comfortable saying ‘my husband’ again.
The Lincoln-Collinses insisted Kelly and Avery stay with them, which left the house free for Miles and me. Of course, he’d told me all about their sensitivity coach and Pudge wanting in on the wedding. I was sure she was putting absurd amounts of pressure on Kelly and Avery. I knew Kelly wouldn’t cave; I wasn’t so sure about Avery. He was still an unknown quantity.
“We should wait until after the wedding,” Mile suggested.
“Because?”
“We don’t want to steal Kelly’s thunder. That would be inconsiderate.”
“And…?”
“And nothing.”
“And you’re afraid this isn’t going to work out. You’re afraid she’ll be disappointed if we tell her we’re back together and then break up again.”
