Chapter 5 #3
The sink fills with warm water while Mom rinses dishes and I dry them. Mrs. Harris stands beside us drying silverware with a towel, talking about church, weddings, and somebody's new baby.
I nod when I'm supposed to.
Smile when I'm supposed to.
The whole thing feels practiced.
After a few minutes, Mrs. Harris glances toward the doorway.
"I'll go check on the coffee."
The second she disappears, Mom lets out a quiet breath.
"I'm sorry."
I look over at her.
She rinses another plate before speaking again.
"No... Your father means well."
I almost laugh.
Instead, I stack another dish.
"I know."
The kitchen falls quiet again.
Mom wants to say something else.
I can see it.
She opens her mouth twice before she finally closes it and reaches for another plate instead.
A shadow falls across the doorway. "Need some help?"
I look up and find Daniel standing there smiling the same easy smile he's worn all evening.
"Oh." I glance toward the sink. "I think we've got it."
He steps into the kitchen anyway. "I don't mind."
Mom looks between us for half a second before she reaches for the stack of bowls. "Actually..." she says. "Why don't I go see if your father needs anything?"
She doesn't wait for an answer. She wipes her hands on a towel, gives me an apologetic little smile, and walks out. Just like that, it's the two of us.
Daniel slips his hands into his pockets. "You've had a busy day."
"I have."
"You must be exhausted."
"I'm a little tired."
He nods. "Your dad says you're working and going to school full-time."
“I am.”
Daniel studies me for a second. "I think it's admirable."
"Thanks."
"But I also think you should remember to leave room for a life outside of work."
I blink. "I have one."
"You know what I mean."
Do I? Because I don't think I do.
He leans against the counter. "My mother always says people spend so much time planning careers that they forget to build families."
There it is again. Everything comes back to that. I fold the dish towel over once before setting it beside the sink. "I believe people can do both."
"I'm sure they can." His smile never changes. "I just think family should come first. I think this could really work."
I nod because arguing in my parents' kitchen feels like a terrible idea. "I understand."
He smiles a little wider. "I'm glad."
The silence stretches for a second before he clears his throat. "I was actually hoping we could have dinner sometime. Just the two of us."
He says it like the answer is already decided.
Like he's working out the details instead of asking the question.
My stomach knots.
Tiny barely knew me, and he still asked Scarlett if I'd even be comfortable giving him my number.
Daniel doesn't ask if I'd like to go.
He tells me what we're going to do.
"I'm pretty busy," I say carefully. "School keeps me occupied, and the clinic's been really busy lately."
"I'm sure we'll find a time."
We.
Not if you'd like to.
Not would you be interested.
We'll.
I force a small smile because I don't know what else to do. "Maybe."
He nods like that's the answer he was expecting. "I think we'll get along really well."
Before I can respond, Dad's laugh echoes from the living room.
Daniel glances toward the sound. "I should probably get back."
"Probably."
He smiles at me one last time. "I'm looking forward to it." Then he walks away.
I stand there staring at the doorway long after he's gone. He never actually asked me. Not really. And somehow... I think that's the part I can't stop thinking about.
The rest of the evening drags.
Dad walks the Harrises to the front door while Mom and I carry the last of the dishes into the kitchen.
I rinse plates under hot water while she loads the dishwasher beside me, and neither of us says much.
Every now and then I hear Dad laughing out on the porch, his voice carrying through the screen door like nothing uncomfortable happened over dinner.
The water runs over my hands until I realize I've been holding the same plate for longer than I need to.
Mom reaches over and gently takes it from me.
"I'll finish that one."
"Sorry."
"You don't have to apologize."
I dry my hands on the dish towel and lean against the counter while she slides another plate into the dishwasher.
"He seems nice," she says after a minute.
I look over at her.
"Does he?"
Her hands stop moving.
"He comes from a good family."
"That's not what I asked."
She lets out a quiet sigh before closing the dishwasher.
"I know."
For a second I think she's going to say more.
She doesn't.
She wipes the counter instead, avoiding my eyes.
"Mom..."
She finally looks at me.
"Your father thinks Daniel would be good for you."
A laugh slips out before I can stop it.
"Dad thinks a lot of things would be good for me."
She gives me a look that says to lower my voice even though Dad is still outside.
"Lucy."
"I'm not trying to be disrespectful."
"I know."
"But nobody asked what I thought."
Her shoulders fall just a little.
"I know."
"You keep saying that."
"Because I do."
The words come out so quietly I almost miss them.
Before I can answer, the front door opens.
Dad steps inside, closes it behind him, and walks into the kitchen with the same satisfied smile he'd worn all evening.
"That went well."
Mom nods.
"They're lovely people."
"They are."
His eyes settle on me.
"Daniel is an impressive young man."
I don't answer.
"He has a good head on his shoulders. He's respectful, hardworking, and comes from a strong family."
"I noticed."
"I hope you did."
He folds his arms.
"You made a good impression tonight."
I wait.
"But..."
There it is.
"...you didn't need to argue with him."
"I wasn't arguing."
"You corrected him."
"I told him how I felt."
"You contradicted him in front of everyone."
I stare at him.
"He said I'd probably quit working once I got married."
"And?"
"I don't want to."
Dad's jaw tightens.
"You're nineteen."
"I know how old I am."
"You don't always know what's best for you."
I blink.
"What?"
"A husband changes your priorities."
"They're my priorities."
"They will become your family's priorities."
I shake my head before I even realize I'm doing it.
"I don't want someone else deciding what matters to me."
Dad's expression hardens.
"Daniel wasn't deciding anything."
"He didn't ask me."
"He invited you to dinner."
"He told me we'd find a time."
Dad lets out a slow breath like he's trying very hard to stay patient.
"You're reading too much into this."
"No."
The word comes out before I can stop it.
"I'm really not."
The kitchen goes completely still.
Mom's hands freeze on the towel she's folding.
Dad looks at me like he isn't sure he heard me correctly.
"I don't know him."
"You'll get to."
"What if I don't want to?"
Mom closes her eyes.
Just for a second.
Dad doesn't even hesitate.
"You should."
"Why?"
"Because he's exactly the kind of man a young woman should be looking for."
"What if I'm looking for something different?"
His eyes narrow.
"I don't think you know what you're looking for."
The words sting more than I expect.
"I know I want to finish school."
"You can."
"I know I want to keep working."
His expression doesn't change.
"We'll cross that bridge when the time comes."
I stare at him.
He's still talking about my future like it's already been decided.
Like all I have to do is show up.
"I don't think that's your decision."
The second the words leave my mouth, I wish I could grab them back.
Mom inhales sharply.
Dad doesn't raise his voice.
Somehow that's worse.
"As long as you live under my roof, I have every right to guide you." He takes one step closer. "I'm not asking you to marry him tomorrow."
"I know."
"I'm asking you to give a good man a chance."
I swallow. "What if I don't want to?"
His eyes stay on mine. "I think you'll discover you do."
The room suddenly feels too small. I look at Mom, but she won't meet my eyes. "I think I'm going to go study."
Dad nods once. "I think that's a good idea."
He says it like the conversation is over. Like we reached an agreement. We didn't. I just ran out of things I could say. I head upstairs without another word, and by the time I close my bedroom door behind me, my hands are shaking.
I don't even bother turning on the light.
I sit on the edge of my bed and pull my phone out of my cardigan pocket.
Scarlett's message is still waiting for me.
Scarlett: No pressure, babe. Tiny asked if it'd be okay if he had your number. I told him I'd ask you first.
I stare at the keyboard for a long time before I finally answer.
Me: Okay, give him my number.
The message sends before I can change my mind.
Almost immediately, three dots appear.
Scarlett: You sure?
I smile a little. She asks too. Nobody in this house has asked me what I wanted all night.
Me:: Yes.
My phone buzzes again before I even lock the screen.
Scarlett: Good. I'm proud of you for making your own decision.
I read the message three times. Then I set my phone beside me and lie back on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
Downstairs, everything sounds exactly the way it always has.
I don't.