Page 33 of Sweet Girl
She scoffs, blowing a piece of her blue-colored hair out of her face.
“For the record, they are disgusting. We need to get that little booty of yours into something smoking hot. And I have the perfect thing for you. I picked them up in this cute boutique in Boulder. God, they have the most awesome corsets. You should see the one I wore on Halloween! Brandon just about dropped his load the minute he undressed me. It was classic.”
My brain manually flips through the lists of names she’s mentioned over the last four months like a rolodex. She goes through guys faster than I read books – and I’m a speed reader if that gives you a clue. I think Brandon was some frat boy she met at a party in October. They lasted about three days.
I ignore her comment, moving to my closet and opening the doors. I give an assessing stare at the contents. Hmm. Maybe Kady has a point. I have nothing that I can wear to hang out with Van that isn’t frumpy or geeky. I have a sundress that my mom bought me for our high school graduation party last May, but it’s December and not appropriate attire to play video games in.
Turning my head, I glance over my shoulder in defeat. “Okay. Fine. Help me find something to wear...but,” I qualify, ensuring she understands I’m not trying to be her. “It can’t show cleavage. It has to be comfortable. And there are no high heels in the mix. Got it?”
Kady gives a little grunt, but claps her hands in glee as she runs up behind me and wraps her arms around my middle. “Can I do your hair, too?”
“Don’t push it.”
We both dissolve in a fit of giggles, knowing full well I’ll give in to her request. That’s what sisters are for.
****
An hour later, we descend the curved staircase and head into the dining room where my brother and Mr. Roberts, I mean, John – both sit, chatting about basketball. My mom is in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on the meal she’s prepared for tonight’s dinner.
As we take our seats, Cade finally notices me, his eyes smiling first at Kady and then widening in shock when he locks with mine.
“Whoa,” he exhales, setting his beer down on the table in front of him. “What happened to you?”
I bite my lip, glancing sidelong to Kady who’s sitting next to me. My eyes plead with hers not to say anything that would out me and Van. I definitely do not want to get into this with Cade tonight. Or ever. It’s complicated enough as it is. No need to throw a protective, older brother into the mix.
“She’s going out tonight.” Kady intercedes, glaring at Cade from across the table.
Cade’s eyes narrow. “Where? With who?”
Kady lobs one over again – she always has my back. I feel like I’m watching a tennis match and my social life is the ball. “None of your business.”
She gives him a feisty head tilt, begging him to push it. I watch as Cade’s lips press together, the blue of his eyes dimming to a dark denim. He’s about ready to respond when my mom saves the day.
“Okay, let’s eat!”
All our heads turn as we watch her walking into the dining room carrying a large tray of food, the succulent smell wafting through the room. My mouth instinctively waters and my stomach grumbles. It’s been far too long since I’ve eaten good home-cooked meals. It’s definitely true what they say about the Freshman Fifteen. I’m at a five-pound weight gain already and I still have a half of a year to go. All the weight has gone to my ass, much to my chagrin. I had hoped it would pad my bra a little more than it did, but no such luck.
I’d asked my mom earlier if she needed any help with dinner and she just shooed me away. John was in the kitchen with her, sipping on a glass of wine and chopping up veggies. It was kind of cute to watch them together. He is a nice guy and I’m happy they get along. I’ve finally come to the realization that my parents are over for good. I’m not gonna lie. It still hurts that our family, the way it was at one time, is no longer a unit. From the looks of things, though, it’s better for my mom.
I saw my dad at Thanksgiving and before that during fall break, and he seems to have mellowed a bit. Dad is a Type-A personality, which is a good thing in his line of work. He’s a criminal lawyer and has made a living defending some really high-profile cases. I’ve seen it wear him down over the years, though. Moving from childhood to adulthood, I’ve noticed the affects it’s had on him. He drinks more. Spends more time away from home. It definitely drove a wedge between he and my mom, as well as between he and Cade.
I still love my dad and have the closest relationship with him out of the three of us kids. Cade is my mom’s pride and joy. Kady...well, let’s just say Kady has given both my parents more trouble than all of us combined.
My mom never told us what we were celebrating tonight but my guess is the meal is some sort of pre-holiday celebration. She set wine glasses at all our seats, so that means it’s a special occasion. She’d always give us a little taste when we were teenagers and now that we’re in college, apparently it’s okay to drink at the family dinner table. I’m not a big drinker to begin with, and Kady doesn’t hide the fact that she enjoys the sauce.
John stands and pushes his chair back from the table, bringing his wine glass in front of him, suggesting a toast.
“Thank you, Kristine, for inviting me to your family dinner table tonight. And for being the most wonderful woman in the world. I love you. Cheers.”
My head turns to look down the other end of the dining table, where my mom sits, her cheeks stained red and the smile on her face is bright and cheery. She’s glowing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her looking so beautiful. And she is a beautiful woman.
A chorus of ‘cheers’ goes up from everyone, including myself, as we clink our glasses together. It’s strange to think that we’ve all grown up around this table and yet we’ve never been witness to this kind of genuine appreciation or affection from the man sitting at the head of the table. I’ll admit, my father wasn’t the kind of guy who let compliments slip out that readily. I don’t ever recall seeing him embrace my mom in a hug, kiss her on the cheek, or even offer her any praise.
My mom brushes the hair from her face, the smile receding a bit, as she takes a large gulp of her Pinot. As she places it delicately in front of her plate, she looks across the table at John and returns the sentiment.
“I love you, too, John.” I notice a twitch in her cheek as she swallows what appears to be a lump in her throat. “I’m so happy you’re here with my family tonight. And I hope that we will continue having these opportunities for many years to come. Kids...” She takes turns gazing at each of us lovingly – with hope.
“John and I have an announcement to make.”
