Chapter 12 #2
The dinner conversation is going on like it usually does.
Dad and Vicky talk about the office since Vicky works with my dad at his law firm.
Mom talks about the party and all of her other activities.
They ask Bradley how things are in his fraternity and how his classes are going.
They avoid me like the plague. That is until the dinner portion ends and Mom brings out a double chocolate layer cake.
“Stella—” she starts.
“Yeah, I know, Mom. I’m eating something else,” I say snidely.
“Watch that smart mouth of yours, young lady. You definitely don’t need cake,” snarls Mom.
“I know, Mom.”
She hands me a tiny fruit cup.
“Since you brought it up, why don’t you tell us why you decided to end things with Bradley?” asks Mom—not so sweetly this time.
“I didn’t bring it up.”
“Getting snippy about your fresh fruit cup was a start if you ask me,” grumbles Mom.
“Fine, let’s get this over with then. I’m not getting back together with Bradley,” I say defiantly.
“Why in heavens name would you break up with someone like Bradley, Stella? He’s the perfect boyfriend, and he’ll be a great provider for you once he starts working at Jim’s law firm.”
There it is again. Provider. Ugh.
“I’m not looking for a ‘provider,’ Mom!”
“Of course not,” Mom barks. “You’re not thinking of anyone but yourself, young lady. Or are you expecting your father and me to support you forever? So selfish,” she mutters under her breath.
“Candy, let’s let Stella explain herself,” says my dad in his normal calming voice.
“I met someone else,” I say cautiously. I don’t want to be the one to tell them that Bradley cheated on me, and I wasn’t going to mention Alex tonight, but they’ve left me no choice here.
“Who? Who is this new person you’re seeing?” Mom asks in a disbelieving tone.
“You don’t know him. I met him in my dorm.”
“So, you’re expecting us to believe that you met another boy the first week of school and decided to dump the man you're supposed to marry for no reason?” She takes a bite of cake, making sure I notice.
“I don’t expect you to believe anything I say. You think the worst of me automatically.”
“Well, at least you understand where I’m coming from. I find it hard to believe that you could meet anyone else.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I know what she’s insinuating.
My mom sighs like explaining this to me is a chore.
“You know what I'm saying. Look at yourself, Stella. Men just aren’t going to be that excited about dating someone of your, um, size. Bradley can, at least, see past all of that. Whoever this imaginary boy is, I’m sure he’ll lose interest quickly. ”
I can’t do this. I need for them to know the truth. “Bradley, tell them,” I plead. I turn to look at him. I’m angry that I have to deal with this alone while he sits there and just watches. This is all his doing in the first place.
“Tell her what, sweetheart?” Bradley asks.
“Tell them about Alex,” I say nervously.
“Well, I know she’s met Alex Emerson. I'm not sure if she’s seeing him, though. He’s famous around campus, so it makes sense that she’d pick him,” he says carefully.
“Bradley, what are you doing? Wait, I know. You’re trying to make them think I’m delusional. Well, it’s not going to work. I know my dad’ll believe me, right, Dad?”
“Oh, sweetheart… are you talking about Alex Emerson, the all-American tight end for the Wildcats? The one that’s supposed to go to the NFL next year? The one who’s won—”
I don’t let him finish. “I cannot believe this. I really can’t. Not even my dad believes me? It’s the truth, Dad. He wants to be my boyfriend.”
I hear a scoff coming from my mom’s end of the table.
That’s it! I’m going to have to tell them what actually happened here since Bradley isn’t man enough to admit it.
There’s a burning behind my eyes. Hearing my dad sound almost sad that I’d make up someone like Alex does it.
I clear my throat, and I start to tell them what a cheating snake Bradley is, but when he stops me in midsentence.
“Stella, don’t!” Bradley interrupts.
But I keep going. I shouldn’t be alone facing this… this interrogation. This is his fault anyway. “The reason I broke up with him was... he, um, he was cheating on me with my roommate, Brooke,” I say quickly.
“What?” my dad shouts.
“Oh, Stella, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” says Mom.
Unbelievable. “Mom, I caught him coming out of my bathroom wearing only a towel. His tongue was down her throat.”
“I’m sure what you saw was just a little indiscretion. I’m sure he wasn’t sleeping with her.”
“Mom, I heard him say, ‘Come on, baby, let’s go get dirty again.'” I repeat his words in a mocking deep voice.
“That’s enough,” my dad yells. “I’ve heard enough. Stella, is this true?”
“Yes, Dad, it’s true. He was in my dorm when I got back from helping Lily move into her new room.
He didn’t know I’d had to move into Shepard because he wouldn’t return any of my calls or texts.
Actually, he hasn’t replied to any of my calls or texts since July fifth. I gave up expecting him to contact me.”
“I was busy,” whines Bradley.
“Bradley, I am ashamed of you,” says Dad. “You’ve always been like a son to me. I expected much more from you, especially with regards to my daughter.”
“I know. I’m sorry, sir. It’s not what you think. Brooke means nothing to me.”
“That’s neither here nor there,” my dad snaps.
“Jim…” My mom’s voice is weirdly cautious. “Let’s give Bradley the benefit of the doubt here. I mean—”
“You mean what, Candy?” I’ve never seen my father this angry before.
“I mean, Stella shouldn’t be rash. Who else is going to take her on?” Mom always thinks she’s the voice of reason.
“Take her on? What does that even mean?” Dad asks.
“Well, look at her—”
That’s when I interject, “I know it’s hard for you to believe that anyone would want to date me, Mom and Dad, but I’m not lying when I say that I have met Alex Emerson and he wants to be my boyfriend.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet!” scoffs Bradley.
I turn to him and glare. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Well, he’s just telling you that to get you into bed. He feels sorry for you because he was there the day everything happened with us,” scoffs Bradley.
“I thought you said she wasn’t seeing anyone, Bradley,” my dad queries.
I ignore my dad’s comment. “You didn’t want me in your bed, so what’s it to you?”
“That’s not true,” he snivels.
“Yes, it is, and you know it. Besides, I’m not having sex with Alex…
yet. But we have feelings for each other.
Not everyone thinks I'm ugly and disgusting, you know. It is possible for someone to like me just like I am! Alex thinks I’m beautiful,” I say the last part quietly.
That’s it, I can’t hold them back, the tears start, and I let them.
“We don’t think you’re ugly, sweetheart,” my dad says.
“Of course she’s not ugly, just overweight,” Mom pipes up.
Yeah, like that makes it better.
“Candy, enough!” Dad yells. That gets everyone’s attention. Number one, my dad doesn’t yell, and number two, he never talks back to my mom. He lets my mom do whatever she wants and always has. “I’ve heard enough from both of you. Our daughter deserves better than a cheating boyfriend.”
“Sir, I, uh, Brooke means nothing to me. I care about your daughter.”
“You care about my daughter? Really?” sarcasm drips from my dad’s voice. Honestly, I’ve never heard this side of him before.
“Oh, now, honey…” Mom is going to try to talk my dad down. Good luck.
With that, I decide I’ve had enough. The words start flying from my mouth.
“Okay. I’m done. Mom, you’ve made me feel bad about myself my entire life.
You’ve made me ashamed of my body and my appearance.
It has to stop. I’m nineteen, and it’s time for you to let it go.
I’m not going to get any smaller. There’s nothing I can do to change it aside from plastic surgery.
” I pause, thinking about my own words. “Actually, Mom, I’m surprised you haven’t had me under the knife yet––I’m such an embarrassment to you. ”
That’s the most I’ve ever said, to anyone, about how my mom makes me feel. It’s sort of exhilarating. I might as well keep going because this chance isn’t going to happen again. I know it. “And while I’m at it, I want to be an art major.”
My dad is glaring at Mom, then he scowls at Bradley before turning to me. “We aren’t embarrassed by you,” my dad says.
Mom is silent. Of course, she is. Vicky’s sitting silent, no doubt astonished by the whole thing. Heck, I actually forgot she was even here. But, when she finally speaks, she says, “Um, you know what, I think Bradley and I should go, don’t you, Bradley?”
With a shrug, Bradley states glumly, “Yeah, I guess.”
“Thank you very much for dinner. Stella, I’m sorry this has happened to you.
I’ll talk to you soon, sweetheart. I love you,” says Vicky sympathetically.
I’m not surprised by Vicky’s words. While she’s been my mom’s best friend since high school, Bradley’s mom has always been kind to me.
It’s strange that she and my mom are so close because Vicky’s personality is the complete opposite of Mom’s and Bradley’s. She’s quiet and reserved and loving.
Mom stands up abruptly and gives Dad a dirty look. Then she turns to Vicky and Bradley. “Let me walk you out.”
“No, we know the way, Candy. Thanks again. Dinner was delicious.”
“Good night, Vicky. Bradley,” says Mom.
Dad stays quiet. I’d love to say it was strange that the only person who apologized and said they loved me was Vicky, but it’s not.
Once the front door clicks shut, I get up from my chair.
It's time to pack my bag and head back to school tonight. Dealing with my parents anymore this weekend is more than I can take. Mom and Dad don’t say a word.
They stare at each other from either end of the table. It’s beyond tense.