Chapter Twelve I Hate Country Clubs #2
Noah huffs at that, eyes going to the ceiling for a moment. Then he meets my eyes. His gaze can be so intense. Sometimes it feels like he’s trying to look past everything on my surface into my deepest self.
Which is ridiculous, of course. Stupid curse.
He finally speaks, his lips a snarl. “Do you think any one of them would let me do what they didn’t let my father do?” He sounds almost combative when he says it.
I put my hand on his arm again. “Maybe I’m out of line here,” I say, “and I know my life isn’t like yours, but I’m not planning to let anyone keep me from my goals.
I’m going to be an architect. I’m going to finish high school in Toronto and get scholarships.
I’m going to be the first in my family to go to university.
I don’t need people to let me do what I want to do with my life.
I’m making that decision.” I know I’m getting riled up, but I hate feeling backed into a corner and forced into a choice I don’t want.
Noah shouldn’t feel that way, especially when he’s so talented.
“I’ve seen you play. If leaving Cherrybridge to be a musician is what you want, then you can do it.
And if you need someone on your side to help you make that happen, I can be that person. If you want.”
The combativeness on his face melts. He stares at me with that intense expression awhile, then shakes his head, smiling. “You… you’re a force, aren’t you, Noorani? I think you joining the LeClair family is either the best or the worst thing that could happen to Jason.”
I laugh at that. The truth is, I don’t want to be either a positive or a negative impact on Jason. I want to be neutral, just Mom’s kid to him.
“And,” he adds, speaking slowly, “maybe I’m out of line here, but I hope you aren’t losing yourself because of your goals like Jason did.
I think you’d be a better architect or whatever if you dressed the way you want, had the piercings you want, and loved live music without feeling guilty about it. ”
I frown. I’m not losing myself because of my goals. My goals are who I am. Noah’s wrong about me; he just doesn’t know me well enough yet.
A loud voice fills the room. It’s Jason at the podium on the stage.
“Can I have everyone’s attention? Just a moment of your time.
” Once everyone quiets, he smiles. “I’ve brought you all here for two reasons, and believe it or not, neither of them has to do with golf, or my tennis scores.
” He chuckles, and for some reason lots of other people laugh too. Noah and I exchange a side-eye.
“But seriously,” Jason continues. “I’ve been part of the Cherrybridge community my whole life, and there are two things everyone here thought they knew about me.
One, that I would be a confirmed bachelor for life, and two, that I think this town is the best place in the world for the people lucky enough to live here.
Well, it turns out you were all wrong about one of those things.
I still think Cherrybridge is the best place in the world, but as you all should know by now, I’m no longer a single man.
” He pauses to look at my mom standing off to the side, smiling at her.
“In fact, I not only have a beautiful, accomplished, and brilliant wife to stand next to me, but an equally amazing stepdaughter, too. Please welcome my wife, Neelam LeClair, and my stepdaughter, Meera, to Cherrybridge! Come, join me up here, Neelam and Meera!”
My eyes widen. I had no idea Jason was going to put me on the spot like this. I’m not sure I can do it without Noah next to me. I turn to him, terrified, and he raises a brow, his lips turned up with amusement. “You going up there with them or staying here with me?” he asks.
I look to the front of the room. Mom’s walking to the stage, and I can see her looking around for me, worried. Jason notices me, and motions me up to the front, smiling.
“Don’t give them the satisfaction,” Noah says. “You’re not one of them.”
I bite my lip and sigh. I am not a LeClair, but I am Neelam LeClair’s daughter. I remember that racist Stuart guy who was so rude to her. I can’t leave her up there alone. I exhale and shake my head.
Heart beating heavily, I head to the front of the room. Mom’s already there, and Jason’s hugging her. When he sees me, he opens his arms to hug us both at the same time.
One big happy family. Gross.
Jason goes back to the mic, and Mom takes my hand. She’s got a big smile on her face, but her hand is sweating. Is she okay with Jason putting her in the spotlight like this?
“And the second reason I brought you all here today,” Jason says.
“Yes, I’m a LeClair, and my family business means a lot to me, but what means even more is my service to my hometown.
I have been a councilor for six years now, and every year my constituents have asked me what else I can do for this city.
Well, since there are so many changes to my personal life this year, maybe it’s a good time to make a change to my professional life.
I’m thrilled to announce today that I’m going to put my hat in the race for mayor of Cherrybridge in the fall election! ”
The crowd erupts with hoots and hollers, but no one seems surprised. Which makes sense. If anyone knew that Jason was going to do this, it would be his country club pals.
Mom squeezes my hand, and I can’t help thinking that she’s wondering what she got herself into. I look over to the greenhouse area at Noah. Both his eyebrows are up in shock. He stares at me, then stands and walks right out of the room.
When I finally can leave the stage after Jason’s speech, I look everywhere for Noah. Eventually I ask the man at the door, who tells me the young man I came with left the club.
I should have told him about Jason running for mayor.
But I didn’t know about the connection between Jason and his father.
I can’t imagine how much it would hurt to learn that the man who had such a huge, negative impact on his family’s life is going to be running the town.
I told Noah I would be in his corner helping him make his dreams come true, and then I stood with the person who destroyed his father’s dreams. But at that moment I couldn’t abandon my mother for a guy I’ve known literally less than a week.
I text Noah an apology, but he doesn’t answer. I probably lost a friend there.