CHAPTER 32 FREEDOM AT 21
Orchid
The chaos in Mandy’s apartment assaulted every sense. At least Orchid felt at home.
Mandy’s son Matty shrieked and brought tiny pea-smeared fists to his hair.
A small dog twisted beneath the highchair, catching food as it fell.
Mandy aimed another spoon of mush toward her son while directing her husband.
“There’s no need to baste. That’s what the oven bag does,” she explained to her apron-and hot-mitt-outfitted spouse.
Then Mandy swiveled back toward Matty, whose rigidity surpassed comical. Stiff legged, he used the leverage of the tray to press one cheek against the cushioned back, avoiding the contents of the spoon.
“Now that it’s calm, tell me again about this uncle of yours?”
“This is calm?” Orchid registered the explosion of cranberry red on the stove’s backsplash, and crowded dishes on top of the microwave and toaster oven.
“‘Bout as good as it gets in a household with a one-year-old!”
Orchid pulled out her phone. “Okay, so you know my dad’s brother messaged me months ago, all ‘sorry I’ve been lax’ and ‘oh by the way, you have a new baby cousin, aren’t you happy for me?’ Well, today, he sends me this.
Dear Orchid,
Just wanted to let you know we’re thinking of you on Thanksgiving. Hope we can see you soon.
Love, Uncle Zach, Aunt Esty and Baby Quentin
What do you think he wants?”
“I don’t know. What do you know about him?”
Orchid shrugged. “My dad always seemed fond of his little brother. We didn’t see each other much, because he went to school in LA. Uncle Zach seems really excited about being a new father. But don’t forget, after my parents died, I didn’t hear from my uncle for sixteen years.”
“Well, you know I think that totally stinks. You don’t owe him anything. But maybe he’s okay. He sounds like he’s trying to be nice. What does it hurt to call him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t trust any guys,” Mandy reminded her.
“I trust Matty.”
“Babies don’t count. Name another.”
“Well, I trusted Phoenix. And look where it got me.”
“Aww, honey. Don’t.”
Orchid sat on Mandy’s couch. The space between the cushions revealed crumbs where her weight compressed the sofa. Her dad would want her to give him a chance. Zach was his only brother, after all, and had suffered his own grief at the loss of family at a young age.
“Uncle Zach?”
“Orchid! Hang on a sec. Let me get to a quiet spot.”
“Okay.”
His voice sounded the same, its warm timbre suffusing her with a feeling of familiarity.
“Sorry about that. It’s a zoo here.”
“If this isn’t a good time—”
“Oh no, that’s not what I meant. Don’t go. How was your Thanksgiving?”
“Uh, good I guess. How was yours?”
“Esty made the best tofu turkey this side of LA. Listen, I’m really glad you called. I feel terrible that we haven’t talked in so long. It’s totally my fault. What a terrible uncle. Your dad would kill me, he really would.”
“Hey, no sweat,” she interrupted. “Congratulations on your little boy.”
“Thanks! You should meet him. Especially since he brought us together and all.”
“What?”
“I guess, more accurately, it was Esty. You know, my wife?”
“Yeah?”
“She just couldn’t get over that I had this niece I never spoke to. And I’d thought about you, really. It’s just after a while, so much time passed, and I didn’t know how to just call out of the blue anymore.”
“Guess you figured out a way.”
“Ha. Well, once we got pregnant, Esty was like, ‘you see how important family is?’”
“Uh-huh.”
“Seriously. Then he came. And he was so perfect. We were so proud. Just like your parents were so proud when you were born.”
He waited a beat then nailed her exact thought. “I feel terrible I haven’t been around to tell you things like that about your parents.”
She exhaled slowly as if meditating. “Right.”
“So, um, are you doing well? Tell me all about you.” His tone indicated that he found it as awkward as she did, being family and strangers all at the same time.
“I don’t know what to tell you. I got my MBA and ended up working in marketing, which I love. I’m at Estée Lauder working on a global project.”
“Wow, I’m impressed. Does global mean you travel?”
“Sometimes, though we hold a lot of video conferences too.”
“Well, if you’re ever in L.A, you’ve got to call me.”
Quentin sounded a shriek in the background.
“Are you married? Do you have kids?”
“Nope,” she said.
“Well, you have plenty of time.”
Orchid puffed up her cheeks. “I know. It’s just . . . it’s just that I fell for a guy who wants nothing to do with me.”
“Aw, I’m sorry. Want me to come kill him for you?”
The ridiculous offer cheered her. “Yeah, actually, that’d be great. We were getting along super. Then I came back after a month and a half to China and boom. He says we shouldn’t see each other anymore.”
“Ouch. Guy’s got no taste. He’s not good enough for you.”
Orchid stared at the ceiling. Entrepreneur, model-ready dance fiend with a touch of European. That’s what family’s for, to boost spirits by saying the opposite of the truth.