Page 70 of The Fool

“I know, but as I said, I’ve got you,” he whispers as the whole family begin walking into the living room, bringing us all together for the first time in years.

To my surprise and horror, Emma walks over to me, biting her lip before wrapping her skinny arms around my shoulders and burying her head inside the crook of my neck. It shocks me, and for a moment, I stand frozen on the spot. My clueless parents are smiling with far too many teeth to be natural, and they begin nodding as if giving me the gentle push to hug her back. With the pressure becoming too much to bear, I reluctantly wrap my arms around her, to which she makes a sound that’s halfway between a squeal and a laugh. She even does a jiggly dance against me, reminding me of how bubbly she always was. For a moment, it makes me smile. Perhaps I can forgive her, but I will never forget what she did.

When she finally lets go, I look straight over at my parents; Mom has tears in her eyes and is wiping them away with the corner of her apron while Dad wanders over to pat my shoulder with pride. Dean, on the other hand, is avoiding the scene altogether by fussing with something on the dining room table, acting the complete contrast to the last time I saw him, acting smug in the middle of this very room.

“Well, dinner is ready everyone!” Mom beams, snapping me out of confusion over Dean’s odd behavior. I can see Ben has clocked it, however, so I subtly shake my head, silently telling him to leave it well alone. It’s no longer my business what’s going on with him, that’s all on Emma now.

Besides, when I make my way into the dining room, I begin salivating over my mother’s home-cooked offerings that are covering every inch of the table. It’s laden with all kinds of food that would scare the hell out of Nate’s obsession with everything healthy, but to me, it’s like heaven threw up a feast just for me. This is when the nostalgia kicks in; cozy nights in with my family, gossiping and laughing over everything and nothing, just as it should be.

“Mom, this looks like all my Christmases have come at once,” I gasp as I take up the space that I always used to sit in. “Cheesy potatoes and glazed carrots?!”

“Just for you, sweety,” she says with a wink and a smile. “And from those baggy clothes, you need them. Two helpings for you, Bea.”

“You don’t need to tell me twice,” I tell her as I begin scooping up spoonfuls of fat and carbs without apology. “Ben and I usually survive on rice and pasta because both of us are too lazy to cook. Vegetables, Ben,vegetables!”

“Hey, I put peas in the rice…sometimes,” he pouts, and everyone laughs, just like we used to once upon a time.

“We always did wonder why you decided to move in with Ben so quickly, the boy has never been able to cook!” Dad teases, but this time, the table falls quiet, especially at Emma and Dean’s end.

“So,” Mom says with an awkward cough, cutting through the uncomfortable silence, “Ben tells us you’re now somebody else’s PA. What’s that all about?”

“Because the guy she was working for is a total prick,” Ben answers for me, which only prompts me to release a frustrated sigh.

“Oh, yes,” Mom says, placing her glass back on the table, “bit of a bully, isn’t he? I hate to think of someone picking on you, Bea.”

Pray you never find out just how much I was picked on, Mom.

“Yeah, well, I sorted it,” Ben continues at the same time as I open my mouth to answer for myself. “Turns out he had a thing for her. What a douchebag!” Ben laughs. “Still, gotta hand it to the big boss who came back from honeymoon to sort it. Now, thanks to me, she’s up there working for him. Am I a great big brother or what?”

“Well done, Ben,” Dad says as he slaps his hand on Ben’s back, looking just as smug as my big brother. They look like matching bookends. “I knew we could trust you to look after her.”

“Actually,” I finally manage to cut in with a sweet smile, “Nate and I are kind of seeing each other.”

The whole table stops what they’re doing and looks at me in shock while I continue to eat a piece of potato on my plate.

“What the fuck?!” Ben asks with a disgusted expression on his face. I must admit, I take great pleasure in it, seeing as it’s wiped his smug smirk away.

“Ben! Language!” my mother snaps. “What do you mean, Beatrice?”

“Yeah,” I say casually, “he came over while Ben was away, and we decided to get to know each other properly. It’s early days of course, but I think now that I’m not working for him, it will be good. So, yes, big brother, thank you so much for your interference. It’s worked out swimmingly!”

I can’t help but smile when I see Ben’s jaw clenching up in anger. It’s all the more amusing when he holds a fist up to his mouth and proceeds to release a long and over-the-top angry breath. He literally looks like a raging bull getting ready to charge at any moment. I hope I look like I don’t give a shit.

“Wait,” Emma interjects, making me look up at her suddenly, wondering if she’s going to have the audacity to try and give me advice. “I thought he was bullying you?”

“He was a jerk of a boss, yes,” I reply without pause, all while looking her straight in the eye, “but on a personal level, he makes me feel like the only girl in the world. I can appreciate that after…Well, it’s something I value greatly.”

I can’t help looking right at my sister and Dean after those words have left my mouth. She stares at her plate while moving her food about with her fork, whereas Dean looks as though he wants to run far away from here. I’m beginning to think that he might actually be feeling remorseful. It’s weird considering the last time we had been this close he was almost rubbing their betrayal in my face.

“But the guy’s a tool!” Ben snaps, breaking my hypnotized stare. “He’s probably just using you.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, brother,” I growl, “I’m glad you think so highly of me.”

“Now, now,” my father says, cutting us off before our tempers can flare up even more. “Before we get all bent out of shape about this, I think everyone knows the real reason we came here tonight.”Oh, great Dad, bring in this band-aid-ripping moment to really make the atmosphere light. “Emma?”

Emma smiles nervously before getting up to stand behind Dean, who is still trying his best to avoid my gaze. My eyes immediately home in on the rock on her engagement finger while she kisses the top of his head. Dean has turned decidedly pale, whereas Emma appears to have pushed aside her anxiety and is now beaming at us. Ben and I forget our arguing and seemingly reunite by simultaneously crossing our arms on top of the table, just waiting to hear the oh, so happy news.

“Well, Dean and I are getting married, and we wanted to ask you both, personally, to join us in celebrating our special day.”

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