Chapter 10 #2
The pronouncement came with the weight of absolute certainty, as if David Bateman's opinion on Bergen's political succession was the final word on the matter.
"Dad has a point about respecting tradition," Rob acknowledged, though Ben noticed a slight tightening around his eyes.
It was the first hint of disagreement he'd seen between father and son.
Interesting.
"That's the problem with kids these days," David continued as if Rob hadn't spoken. "They have no respect for tradition. No patience. Everyone wants to be in charge before they've earned it."
Ben wondered how Rob would react to any sort of criticism from his parents, but he didn’t get a chance to find out. Trevor’s parents entered the room, flustered and out of breath, apologizing profusely for being late.
Celia and Trevor hopped to their feet to greet them, and Ben could feel Kelly physically relax next to him.
Did the Batemans behave differently when people outside the family were present? Either way, he hoped that Kelly was out of the line of fire.
At least for today.
Awkward. Just plain and agonizingly awkward.
Kelly had attended her fair share of uncomfortable meals in her life, but the others paled in comparison.
Trevor’s parents were, in a nutshell…a nightmare.
Marjorie, the mother, wasn’t happy about anything. She wasn’t happy about the restaurant, the menu, the waiter, the weather, the rehearsal dinner, or the wedding. She wasn’t happy about the honeymoon, either, but had grudgingly conceded that since she wouldn’t be going, it probably didn’t matter.
It had been all Kelly could do not to fling herself across the table and shove a pristine white table napkin in Marjorie’s mouth so they could all get at least a short break from her complaining.
Was her life truly that awful?
The father, Howard, had barely spoken ten words since they’d arrived, but from what Kelly could see, this was the norm. Marjorie spoke, and Howard nodded. Trevor nodded, as well, even as his bride-to-be cringed in her chair at the criticism Marjorie wasn’t bothering to hide.
In a way, Kelly sort of admired it. At least, Marjorie was all out there with it and didn’t bother with any of that passive-aggressive bullshit. If she didn’t like something, she didn’t hide it.
And she wasn’t bothering to hide that she didn’t think much of Celia. Or at least Celia’s taste in dresses, food, flowers, and music. Whether she liked her future daughter-in-law as a person was up in the air.
Honestly, it could go either way.
“I’m sure it’s going to rain Sunday,” Marjorie said, waving a waiter over to refill her water glass. “It would have been better to have the wedding in the autumn, like I suggested.”
Celia’s smile dimmed slightly, but she didn’t say a word. Good thing, because Marjorie wasn’t done.
"Trevor, darling, you look tired. Are you getting enough sleep?"
Trevor, who had barely spoken three words since they'd been seated, kept his eyes fixed on his plate.
"I'm fine, Mother."
"You should be taking those vitamin supplements I gave you. You, too, Celia. You can’t be too careful with your health, especially with that drafty venue you chose for the reception.
I hope you told all the guests to bring a sweater.
I suggested the Hilton in Truett, and frankly, I think it would have been better. I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
Celia pushed her hair behind her ear, her lips pressed together tightly as if to keep from speaking.
Her sister’s gaze moved from the table toward the exit of the room.
Was she thinking about making a run for it?
Kelly would give her a fighting chance by throwing things in the path behind her should anyone try to chase her down.
"The salmon here is excellent," Trevor’s father, Howard, offered mildly, the first words he'd spoken since commenting on the weather when they'd arrived.
Kelly took a sip of water, studying her sister over the rim of her glass.
They'd been raised by the same parents, in the same house with the same rules, yet they'd turned out so differently.
Kelly had rebelled, escaped, and built walls.
Celia had bent, accommodated, and sought approval.
Neither approach had been without its costs.
The waiter arrived to refill their water glasses, providing a brief moment of reprieve. Kelly seized the opportunity to catch Celia's eye, raising her eyebrows in silent question. Celia responded with the briefest shake of her head and a tight smile that clearly communicated.
Don’t.
“Everything okay?”
The question was whispered into her ear by Ben, who was currently looking at her with a concerned expression. This time it wasn’t her needing the help, though. Celia needed it, and Kelly didn’t know what to do.
Do I put that battleaxe in her place or keep my mouth shut?
From the look Celia had given her, it seemed her sister was a fan of the former option.
“It’s fine,” Kelly assured him in a soft tone. “I’m just not super hungry, I guess. It’s all good.”
He didn’t believe her, but he didn’t say so out loud. That was another thing she appreciated about Ben. He knew when to keep his peace and when to speak his mind.
Maybe I should take a lesson.
It wasn’t easy, but for the next hour, Kelly barely said a word.
Not that anyone really spoke much to her, to be honest. Marjorie liked hearing her own voice, and along with her father and mother, they dominated the conversation, mostly about days gone by and how kids didn’t know how good they had it.
Even Rob couldn’t get a toehold into the conversation and simply gave up, eating his filet glumly.
He didn’t like it when he wasn’t the center of attention.
Howard managed to get in a question to Ben about what he did for a living, and she listened fascinated as he described the data analysis tool that his business had developed.
Her father listened intently, as well, although he didn’t comment too much about it, simply nodding along as if he completely understood all of it.
The whole thing sounded incredibly complex, like something out of a science fiction movie or book.
That conversation hadn’t lasted long, however, as Marjorie had corralled the attention back to her as she complained to the waiter about the salmon being dry.
“Excuse me,” Celia said, levering from her chair. “I’m going to go freshen up.”
“You haven’t ordered dessert yet,” Trevor protested.
“Just order me whatever you’re getting,” Celia replied with a smile. “I’m happy with anything.”
That’s what I’m afraid of.
“I think I’ll powder my nose, too,” Kelly said, placing her napkin beside her plate. “Ben, order me whatever you think I’d like.”
“Chocolate it is,” Ben joked.
“Smart man,” Celia said, although their parents didn’t say anything in agreement.
Following Celia into the ladies' room, Kelly waited until the heavy door swung shut behind them before speaking. Celia immediately busied herself with her lipstick, avoiding Kelly's gaze in the mirror.
They appeared to be alone, but she couldn’t guarantee it would stay that way. If she planned to say anything to her sister, she needed to get to it. She pulled her own lipstick from her purse and applied a fresh coat.
“You have your hands full with Trevor’s mom. She’s really something. Is she always like that, or is she stressed about the wedding?
Her sister didn’t reply immediately, continuing to apply a fresh coat of pale pink lipstick.
"Marjorie just wants everything to be perfect. She has high standards."
“I don’t think she’s going to make the wedding day easy for you, sis.”
Or Celia and Trevor’s life together, but that was a whole other discussion.
"You just have to get used to her." Celia capped her lipstick and tucked it into her small purse. "She means well."
"Don't sweat your mother-in-law. She's not the type to be happy. No matter what you do, she's going to find something to criticize. Just do whatever you want,” Kelly placed her hand on her sister’s arm in comfort. “As long as you and Trevor are happy, that’s the important thing.”
Celia's reflection stared back at Kelly in the mirror, her expression unexpectedly hardening. She pulled her arm away from Kelly's touch.
"That's easy for you to say," Celia replied, her voice taking on a firmness Kelly rarely heard from her sister. "I'm marrying Trevor, and that means I'm marrying his whole family, too. I have to get along with her."
The sudden shift caught Kelly off guard. Celia wasn’t the type to stand up for herself, and she’d been trying to urge her to do just that.
“I wasn’t suggesting that you don’t—”
"You don't get it." Celia turned to face Kelly directly now, no longer using the mirror as a buffer.
"This isn't about one day or one wedding.
This is about the next forty years. This is about holidays and birthdays and grandchildren someday.
This is about Trevor not being caught in the middle every time his mother and I disagree. "
“I'm just saying you shouldn't start your marriage by bending yourself into a pretzel to keep Marjorie happy. It will never be enough for her."
"And I'm saying you don't know what you're talking about.
" Celia's words were clipped and precise, while tears glittered in her eyes. Kelly immediately felt like total crap; the last thing she’d wanted to do was upset Celia.
How had this all gone so wrong? "And this is one area where you shouldn't give advice. "
The statement hung in the air between them, unexpectedly harsh in the quiet elegance of the bathroom.
"Cel—"
"No." Celia cut her off, straightening her shoulders.
"You live your life one way, and that's fine for you.
But I'm making different choices. I love Trevor. His family is important to him, so they're important to me. Sometimes that means compromise. You know what compromise is? It’s that thing you don’t like to do. "
"I'm sorry," Kelly said finally. "I didn't mean—"
"I know what you meant." Celia's voice softened slightly, but the firmness remained. "Look, I appreciate that you're concerned."
Without waiting for a response, Celia walked out, leaving Kelly standing alone in the bathroom.
Kelly gripped the cool edge of the marble counter, letting the words sink in. Had her independent lifestyle made her incapable of understanding real relationships? The kind that required daily navigation, constant negotiation, the messy work of living alongside other people's needs and wants?
She couldn’t be sure of anything at the moment, her mind still absorbing her sister’s accusation.
Compromise? That thing you don’t like to do?
Was she so unyielding? Rigid?
She wouldn’t have described herself that way, but clearly her sister did. But did Celia understand that the compromises that had been asked of Kelly were simply too much? No one should have to change who they are just to please other people.
Even their own family.
Tossing her lipstick back into her bag, Kelly took a deep breath before placing her hand on the door.
She was going to go out there and be the kind of family she’d always wished to have.
The kind that supports the other’s differences and decisions.
She was going to support Celia’s choices this weekend, even though they weren’t what Kelly would have done.
Two sisters. Two different life paths. But for this weekend, Kelly was going to be Celia’s biggest cheerleader.