Chapter 37 #2
“Oh yeah? Who knew so much was riding on breakfast.” I kicked him again, but this time he reached under the table, squeezing my leg, making me jolt in my seat, laughing.
“Thanks for bringing me here.”
I’m relieved he doesn’t ask any more questions about my past. And he isn’t wrong. The waffles are better than an orgasm. Well, almost.
“Damn, girl.” Rhett enters through the backdoor as I pull the baking sheet from the oven.
I’m a hot mess; my apron shifted sideways on me, three different timers going, and not an inch of countertop is clean, but pride swells in me, because I have done this all myself. Tonight, we are hosting Sunday dinner at Rhett’s house, and his family will be here any moment now.
“I know, I made a lot. But I never got to cook for anyone really, so this is fun for me.”
His eyes roam over everything but he smiles, and relief floods me. I just want to get this right.
“You don’t have to buy their love; you know they already like you. Like, so much, and I can’t figure out why…”
I snap the kitchen towel at Rhett, but we’re interrupted by my ringing phone. I searched around, unable to locate it.
Rhett finds it under the cookbook and tosses the phone at me. I catch it, accidently answering it in the process. Rhett stands there unsure if he should leave, but I hold up my finger, gesturing to him to be quiet. I’m determined to make this conversation short.
Since his existence isn’t known to anyone but Penny.
“Hey Mom.”
“Audrey, hello, I need to chat, do you have a moment?”
“Uhm, I have a minute. I’m just cooking dinner.”
“Oh, how funny,” she responds, probably thinking I'm joking, but I stay silent until she continues. I’m not in the mood to entertain her antics.
“You haven’t RSVP’d and catering needs the final count.
I need to know if you’re coming to the Labor Day party.
You and Jackson never missed this party before and I know you’ll be alone this year, but Audrey, it’s a big deal for your father.
Half the company will be there. I know you’ll be in New York—”
I jolt, spinning in my spot, praying Rhett didn’t hear a word of that.
“Yes, I am still figuring that all out, Mom. I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it back this year, due to work.”
“Andrew is taking time away from surgery to be with his family.”
She had to pull the ‘your brother’s a surgeon’ card.
“Mom—”
“If you’re worried about the little upset, I can assure you everyone has moved on.
No one is going to say anything about Jackson and you, we are all adults here.
The world and this party doesn’t revolve around you.
” Her comment is enough to make me want to hit my phone with the meat cleaver, but I grip it and spin back around, making a silly face at Rhett who is leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, an unreadable expression on his face.
“Okay, Mom. I will think about it and let you know tomorrow.”
“Okay, fine. You should be here, people want to see you, Audrey. Your family misses you.”
“Sounds good, good—” But the phone call ended.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I lean against the counter, suddenly drained of the energy I had been brimming with minutes ago.
“Sorry about that,” I offer, not meeting Rhett’s eyes. He scoffs, and I open my mouth to play off the situation, when a knock sounds from the front door. Mabel stirs, and Rhett turns abruptly, walking away without so much as glancing my way.
“Can I have more please?” Jessie asks, rocking in her chair, pointing at the green beans on the dining table. Desi’s eyes grow wide at her daughter.
“You want more vegetables?” She scooped them, peering skeptically at her daughter. “You never eat green beans at home.”
“These are better than yours, Mom. No offense.” She shrugs, and I mouth sorry to Desi who laughs.
“I can’t compete with you,” she jokes, and I shake my head.
“If it’s okay with your mom, and once you’re done, I made mini cheesecakes for dessert.” I nod towards the kitchen and the girls’ eyes light up in awe.
“You know you’re going to have to keep this up now,” Desi says, and I sip wine, shrugging.
“I love it. Honestly, I’m shocked there’s not a good bakery in town. I told Rhett, every town needs a good bakery. It’s just a fact.”
“I agree,” Jenna chimes in and we all laugh.
“Your mom must love having you home for the holidays. I bet you make some incredible dishes!” Renee smiles, and I lower my fork, my chest tightening with emotion. I can’t help but let out a soft chuckle as Rhett watches me intently.
“Oh, my mom would never let me cook for a holiday.” I rub my hands on the top of my thighs, unsure how to backpedal from here. Renee looks confused as Rhett continues to watch me, making me uneasy. He hasn’t been himself since the phone call and it’s made my appetite disappear.
“Will you be seeing them at all this summer?” Desi asks innocently.
I’m sure it must be weird, since I see her family every week when we share these meals around a table.
It’s such an intimate thing, a tradition, one I’ve fallen right in with.
But I don’t think I've ever talked about my family except for the first time they met me.
When it was the polite answer to the polite question.
“I’m not sure yet, I have just been enjoying summer here,” I respond, smiling before shoving food in my mouth so they can’t ask me more questions.
Here is safe. Here is secret. Here is where I can escape.
The rest of dinner goes off without a hitch.
Desi and Renee keeping the conversation going, the girls playing with Mabel, and when I brought out the dessert tray, everyone crowded around, oohing and aahing.
But I didn’t grab one, and neither did Rhett.
He just stood, leaning against the wall in the dining room, a beer in one hand, the other in his jean pocket.
He was quiet and dread gripped me. I knew when everyone filed out tonight, we’d have to talk. Our eyes met across the room and his mouth stayed in a hard line, like mine.
“You’re spoiling Rhett, you know that?” His mom came up behind me as I soak a casserole dish in the sink. The sun outside the window was pink and dusky, and the quietness in the house as everyone ran around outside suddenly felt loud.
I smiled at Renee over my shoulder. “I’m just happy to be able to cook for everyone. It’s my pleasure.” But she doesn’t budge or maybe doesn’t buy it.
“Well, we are grateful for you being here. Rhett hasn’t been so relaxed…I don’t know, in forever.”
I think back to the Ferris wheel, the night Rhett got vulnerable, sharing about his father’s death and the summer of fun he never got to experience. It slaps me as I stare down into the sudsy water, yet again a pit forming in my stomach.
“Hey, let him do the dishes, you did enough tonight!” Rhett’s mom winks at me, and turns off the water, forcing me to leave the dishes in the sink.
I wanted to clean up though, even if Rhett would happily step in to help.
I needed something to focus on other than the painful truth of the mess I have created.