Chapter 15
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Kayla
Sundays are supposed to be for relaxing. I usually sleep in since I close Saturday nights at the Roadhouse. Well, technically, it’s Sunday morning. The bar closes at 2 am on the weekends. My afternoons are spent on the couch with a tray of snacks while watching a movie, or at the Viking Den. Since Coty’s been back, I’ve watched lots of movies.
I arrive at my parents’ house at six on the dot. Arriving early to spend quality time with my parents is a big no. It’s doubtful they know the definition of quality time anyway. Of course, my brother was already here. He’s probably been here all afternoon.
David is the golden child of our family. Nearly everyone in town loves my brother. Our parents sometimes message me updates about him. It’s okay if they don’t. David’s wonderful accomplishments make it through the gossip circles in this town on a regular basis. I try to tune it out. It makes me sick listening to how great my brother is. It wouldn’t be so bad if they didn’t give me the little side glance as if to ask, What happened to you? Yes, I’m the family screw up.
“Hey, little sister.” David meets me at the door before I can knock.
“Hey.” I hang my coat on the hanger by the door. “How was your week?”
“It was good. Yours?”
“It was okay.” Making small talk is the worst.
Laughter comes from the kitchen. My parents have guests. Oh wow. I wasn’t expecting company. I stop and look up at David. Laughter isn’t common in this house.
“Aunt Ellen is staying a few days,” David answers my unspoken question.
Great. Dad’s sister is here. Her charming personality is as awesome as Dad’s. I should leave now.
“Come on.” My brother sees my fight-or-flight kick in and ushers me to the kitchen.
“Kayla, there you are.” Aunt Ellen rushes over and hugs me.
Whoa. Who is this alien, and what has she done with my aunt? She’s never hugged me before. Well, not that I can remember.
“Nice of you to join us, dear.” Mom shoves silverware into my hands. She shows no emotion whatsoever.
Okay. Guess I’m helping. “Yeah. Thanks for inviting me.”
After placing a set of silverware by each plate, I take my usual seat on Mom’s right. I’m on this side of the table by myself. David is across from me with Aunt Ellen to his right, next to Dad. The table is covered with dishes like this is Thanksgiving or Christmas.
The meal is awkward. I don’t know why they invited me. Dad and his sister talk about her life in New York. Mom and David talk about his new job at a local winery. I didn’t realize being a winemaker was such a big deal. No one speaks to me. It’s fine. The faster I clean this plate, the faster I can get out of here. This family fiasco is almost over.
“Well, Kayla. What’s up with you?” Aunt Ellen asks.
“What?” I cover my mouth with my hand, almost choking on my food.
“I asked, What are you up to these days?” Unlike my other family members, Aunt Ellen looks me in the eye and waits for a reply.
“Oh.” I dab my napkin to my lips. “My friend, Kira, is getting married in two weeks.”
“Oh, how lovely.” Aunt Ellen isn’t impressed.
“I’m her Maid of Honor,” I add. It was a stupid move.
“You mean Kira Mitchell? Your college roommate?” Mom asks.
“Yes. Her.” I take a sip of water, wishing I’d kept my mouth shut.
“Interesting,” Dad sneers.
“Is something wrong with this Kira?” Aun Ellen looks around the table at each of us.
“Let’s just say everything and forget her,” Dad replies.
“She got Kayla in so much trouble.” Mom rolls her eyes.
“Oh.” Aunt Ellen sits up straighter. “I guess it’s a good thing I showed up then.”
I glance up at my brother. He stares back as he takes a bite of ham. I snap my head toward Mom, then to Dad. Finally, I settle on Aunt Ellen.
“What are you talking about?” All four of them are in on whatever this is. I’m sure of it.
“Well.” Aunt Ellen lays her napkin on the table and shifts her body to face me. “I’m here to hire you for my company.”
“You live in New York,” I remind her.
She nods. “I do, and I was just promoted to department manager. I need an office manager.”
“New York out of office managers?” I ask, snarkily.
“Kayla, mind your manners,” Mom scolds.
“I’m here to offer the job to a family member. If I remember correctly, it was your dream to work in an office in New York.” Aunt Ellen tilts her head. “It would be nice to see that degree of yours and the money my brother paid for it, to go to good use.”
Ah, yes. There’s my snooty aunt. Guess the aliens didn’t want to keep her after all. With her attitude, I can’t say I blame them. But did they have to bring her back here? Pluto would be a lovely planet for Aunt Ellen.
“I don’t have a degree,” I inform her.
“What?” Her hand flies to her chest. She turns to Dad, absolutely horrified. “You let her drop out.”
“He stopped paying for my tuition during my third year.” I managed to finish the spring semester. I wasn’t able to make enough that summer to go back for my final year. Three years and no MBA in the end.
“Randall, why would you do that?” She glares at her brother.
“I stopped when the rest of us got months of videos and pictures of her partying all over Knoxville with this Kira and a couple of guys. Every night of every weekend. Drinking, drugs, and men are not what I was paying for.” Dad’s voice rises with every sentence.
“I never did drugs, and it was one guy,” I mumble. He doesn’t hear me, or doesn’t care.
Dad points at me. “I told you that Christmas, to clean your act up if you wanted me to pay for college.” He shakes his head. “You didn’t listen. For three weeks, pictures and videos came constantly. You were either at bars in Knoxville or here, partying with those bikers. You made your choice. I made mine and pulled your funding.”
Wow. Way to stab me again, Dad. Yes, I partied. Yes, I was drinking. No, I never did drugs. Those around me did them. Yes, there was a man, only one. A mean one I wished I’d never met. I kept coming back to the Den, hoping Coty was home.
“I can’t hire her without a degree. My company insists on them,” Aunt Ellen says.
“Can’t she just go back and finish the last year?” David asks.
“I’m not paying for it. Knoxville is the last place she needs to go.” Dad throws his napkin on the table.
“There are more colleges than Knoxville,” David points out. Is my brother actually trying to help me?
“That’s true,” Mom agrees quickly. She sounds hopeful for the first time in years.
Aunt Ellen taps her finger to her chin. “I could take her back with me and get her into a college in New York. She could come work for me after graduation.” Ah, so that’s their plan.
I slowly push away from the table and stand. “Y’all see me, right? I’m right here. I’m twenty-five. Y’all can’t dictate my life.”
I didn’t go to college right out of high school like my brother and most teens do. I was twenty when I signed up. Two years ago, Dad’s decision ended my dream of becoming an office manager.
“We just want what’s best for you,” Mom pleads.
“I’m not going to New York. I wasn’t doing everything you think I was doing. If you wanted better for me, you shouldn’t have pulled my school funding. My grades were good, but I don’t want that life anymore.”
Ignoring their protests and cheap shots at how badly I’m making another mistake, I grab my coat and walk out the door. I’ll never be good enough for them. It’s fine. I don’t care and highly doubt they do. They have David. They don’t need me.