32. Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Adalie
I park my car outside my parents’ house on Sunday and wring my hands on the steering wheel for a moment before I get out.
“Just go in, get through dinner, and get out.” I take a steadying breath and grab my pink cardigan from my passenger seat, tugging it on to cover my shoulders despite the August heat, before walking to the house. Then I smooth my hands down the front of my dress and open the door.
“Hi,” I call out.
“Hi, Addie,” Elliot responds. He appears at the top of the stairs before I’ve even taken my shoes off. “I was hoping to talk to you.”
I take another deep breath and climb up to meet him. “Sure.” I follow him to the living room, since everyone is sitting outside on the deck. I sit on the couch while he sits on the love seat, his hands clasped in front of him like he’s about to beg me. Though, now that I think of it, he doesn’t even say please when he asks me for money.
He hasn’t asked since he came to my office when I’d told him it was the last time. I’m a little curious to see what he’s going to say now. Why he needs me to bail him out again even after I’ve told him I won’t.
“You remember that position I told you about? At St. Paul’s Hospital?”
I nod. It has been the subject of discussion at the other family dinners I’ve been required to attend lately. How Elliot is up for this big promotion, and he might need to sell his apartment and buy a new one in Vancouver. Never mind that when I bought my condo in Vancouver, it was such a huge waste of money when I could have bought closer to my parents and commuted to work.
“Well, it turns out there were three other doctors up for the same position and one of them got it. Some politics thing regarding seniority.” He shrugs. “Anyway, I was hoping we could talk about another loan. A small one. It’s been a little tight this month.”
This is how it always begins. He likes to downplay how much he needs before he lays it on thick. He only slightly overextended. He’s just a tiny bit behind. It’s been a little tight.
Then he shovels on the guilt combined with flattery.
You’re doing so well, Adalie. You can afford it. Or, my favourite…
“You have everything so organized in your life,” Elliot says.
Next, he’ll tell me the amount.
“I was hoping to borrow—” he begins, but I hold up my hand, cutting him off.
“Can we discuss this later, Elliot?” I say, because I want to say no this time. I really do. I just need a little time to build up to it. “After dinner, maybe?”
“Oh. Sure thing.”
We go out to the deck where Dad is sitting in a lounge chair while Suzanne and Calista sit at the table, discussing what sounds like Suzanne’s new Louis Vuitton bag Elliot got her for her birthday, the reason for this Sunday dinner.
The bag in question sits on the table. It’s pale grey, smallish, and really cute. And I know, because I’ve gone shopping with Vic more than once—though Louis Vuitton isn’t really my style—that bag is thousands of dollars.
Now I’m angry for two reasons. First because Elliot almost asked for money, but he has enough to buy Suzanne a Louis Vuitton bag? If I’d let him give me the number he needed, would I know how much this bag cost? Second, we’re here tonight for Suzanne’s birthday dinner. But I guarantee, when it’s Nate’s birthday next year in February, they won’t have a birthday dinner for him. They don’t approve of my boyfriend, my job, my home, or my car. Is there anything about me they do approve of?
Mom comes out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of bruschetta to the table. Suzanne’s family comes from Italy and Mom always tries to make Italian inspired food when it’s Suzanne’s birthday. In the months since Nate and I started dating, Mom hasn’t asked anything about him. He hasn’t come with me to the other dinners since they were on Sundays when he had Dani and, even if she’d known the whole time about our relationship, I’d never subject that precious girl to my family’s constant negativity. Regardless, everyone knows we’re dating, and no one has thought to ask about him, his interests, or even why he’s not with me.
I sit at the table and Elliot sits next to Suzanne, taking her hand. When Mom is settled as well, Elliot and Suzanne exchange a look.
“We actually have some news,” Suzanne says. “Yesterday, Elliot took me out for a lovely dinner, gave me my birthday present—” She gestures at the bag. “Then he proposed!”
She holds up her left hand, showing off a huge rock on her finger. Calista stands, squealing with delight as she rounds the table to hug Suzanne, then Elliot. Everyone says congratulations, and I set aside my uncomfortable feelings to get in on it. This is happy news, after all. I’m excited for my brother. He’s been with Suzanne for a couple years now.
Once everyone is settled, Suzanne turns to me.
“I actually hoped to ask you a question,” she says.
“What’s that?” I take a bite of the bruschetta. It’s not terrible, but Lis’ is better.
“We’re hoping to get married next summer at Blue Vista.”
My eyes widen as I swallow my bite of food. “Oh. Well, I’m not exactly the person to talk to about that. I’m in charge of staff, not events. You need to talk to Spencer. But I can tell you, if you want a Saturday wedding, that’s not going to be possible.”
Mom rolls her eyes. “Come on, now, Addie. This is your brother’s wedding. Of course there’s something you can do.”
“Like what?” I ask. “The weddings we have booked for next summer have been booked for over a year at this point. Some of them have been booked for three years. There are deposits. We have other vendors lined up for most of them, if not all of them. Again, I’m not in charge of events. But I can tell you, I have numbers for staff required and I’ve started scheduling people.”
Mom stands. “I have to get the rest of dinner. Dennis, tell your daughter it’s not as big a deal as she seems to think it is.”
Dad gets off his lounge chair and comes to the table. It’s almost dinner time, after all.
“Addie. You get your brother a date for his wedding,” he says. Like that’s all there is to it. Like I can just snap my fingers and it’ll be done.
“In July,” Suzanne adds.
My mouth drops open. “July is our busiest month. I wouldn’t be surprised if the only days we have left in July are Mondays through Thursdays. Besides, I can’t take someone else’s wedding date and give it to Elliot and Suzanne.” I turn to them. “There are Sunday dates available in June and August. There are a few Saturdays left for the following summer. But you really have to talk to Spencer.”
Elliot snorts. “Next thing you’re going to tell me, I have to pay to use your venue.”
“Of course you do. It’s still a business, Elliot.”
“Didn’t Spencer’s girlfriend’s sister get married there last summer?” Calista cuts in.
“Yes. Daze got married there. And yes, she got a deal. But that’s because she took a cancellation, last minute at the end of wedding season. She and Sophie still paid. And Spencer and Lis are getting married in a few weeks and are also paying even though Spencer is part owner . This is a business . We can’t give things away for free to everyone or we’ll never make money.”
Calista scoffs. “It’s called complimentary tickets and happens in the industry all the time. You know, for exposure.”
A wash of anger and frustration floods through me. I clench my teeth and take a deep breath through my nose as Mom brings out dinner.
“Blue Vista doesn’t need exposure. We’re doing very well. In fact, we’re expanding next year to open a second location.”
Everyone starts dishing out the food, some kind of lasagna that has a lot of liquid in the bottom of the pan. I realize as I put some on my plate, the noodles have been replaced with zucchini.
“Expansion or not, ten per cent owner in a little wedding venue is hardly anything,” Elliot mutters as he fills his plate.
“Wait,” I say, suddenly furious. “So my money is good enough for you to ask for, sorry, borrow , and my venue is good enough for you to get married at, but because I’m not a doctor, I’m not good enough?”
“I don’t like your tone, Addie,” Dad cuts in.
I feel like I’m standing on the edge of that bridge again, looking down, about to jump off. This time, I don’t have Nate to help me make the leap. I have to do it myself.
I swallow and straighten in my seat, looking at my dad. “I don’t like how you constantly talk down to me. All of you. And, by the way, I don’t own ten per cent. I own twenty-five per cent now.”
“How?” Mom demands.
No matter what I answer, they’ll have a problem. If I bought in, they’d say I wasted my money. If they find out Spencer gave me the extra fifteen per cent, they’d say I was taking charity. So I decide not to answer.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I say. Then I turn back to my brother. “I make twice as much as you do, Elliot. And I’ve made a decision. No. I won’t loan you money. Not now. Not ever again. I won’t help you schedule your wedding at Blue Vista. If you want to get married there, you can make an appointment with Spencer, just like everyone else.” I look at my sister next. “No, Calista. I will not give you tickets to our events. If you want to attend our Halloween party this year, you can buy your ticket, and you’d better do it soon, because even though it’s still only August, we’re at seventy-five per cent capacity already. Finally, just so you know, all those times I said Vic said no, it was me. I didn’t want to give you a ticket. I didn’t like you taking advantage of me simply because I’m your sister.” I take a deep breath and remove my cardigan, showing off the tattoo on my shoulder. Then I smile, a huge weight lifted. “That’s much better. It’s warm today, isn’t it? Suzanne, could you pass the bruschetta?”
Everyone stares at me, agape, but I don’t say any more. Suzanne eventually passes me the plate and I begin to eat. It takes a few minutes for my family to come out of their shock and begin eating as well.
After a moment, Mom says, “You didn’t bring your boyfriend tonight.”
Now she decides to ask about him. I have no intention of telling these people that I don’t know what’s happening between me and Nate. Or how much it hurts that she’s even brought it up. Instead, I say, as sweetly as I can, “Well, you attacked Nate when I brought him before, so I figured I’d spare him.” I put a slight emphasis on his name since Mom routinely refuses to use it on the few times I’ve brought him up.
“I assume this new attitude is because of him,” she says.
“No, Mom. It isn’t. This is because of me. Like I said. I’m tired of you all talking down to me. I chose to go into business. I had some lucky breaks, yes. But I’m successful. That’s nothing to be ashamed of. I bought my condo in Vancouver even though you think I would have got a better deal if I’d bought something closer to here. I bought a car you think is ridiculous. I got a tattoo. These are all decisions I made on my own. I’m not going to let you make me feel bad about these choices anymore.”
We eat in silence for a while before Suzanne starts talking to Calista about wedding plans. The conversation moves on and I don’t try to get involved with it. I feel better than I have in a long time. I don’t need the good opinion of these people. I remember something Spencer told me so long ago. You are perfect exactly as you are, Adalie. Anyone who disagrees doesn’t deserve to have you in their life.
He was right. If I can’t be myself around my family, it’s time to stop worrying about what they think. My friends will be happy for me. I just wish I could tell Nate. I’m sure he’d be happy for me, too.