36
Beckett
T he table grows quiet and Selah and I look over to see Bianca and Carey gawking at me like I just announced I’m Santa Claus.
“You own Kade technology?” Carey asks doubtfully, his eyes narrowing.
“I do, yes,” I reply, continuing to cut into the steak as if it’s no big deal.
I’m used to this happening when I meet people. Though a lot of people already know who I am in Manhattan, I am not in the public eye much for my company. I leave that to Bobby and our Marketing team for the most part.
There have been many times I’ve met people who have little interest in speaking to me until they realize I run a multi-million-dollar company.
Like right now.
Carey’s face goes from bored indifference, to wondering if I need a few new cars, in a matter of seconds.
“That is very impressive indeed,” he says, actually smiling.
“Well! I sure do understand now why Selah has been so busy the past few weeks and not really taking my calls,” Bianca laughs, winking over at Selah as if they have some kind of inside joke together.
That’s not the only reason why she isn’t speaking to you.
Selah cuts me a look, warning me to keep my mouth closed as if she can read my thoughts. She takes a big bite of her steak so she doesn’t have to respond to her mother’s comment.
Thankfully, her mother doesn’t seem to need Selah to answer, continuing on her own. “It’s very impressive all that you’ve accomplished Beckett. You know my stepson, Connor, just graduated from medical school and is going to be a Podiatrist. And my stepdaughter, Clarice, helps Carey run our family dealerships. They are both just so accomplished too,” she says, beaming over at Carey who is more interested in his steak than her fawning over his kids.
Bianca pokes at her salad, shaking her head, “I always hoped that Selah would be a doctor, or join the family business too. But she wanted something a little simpler I guess. Not everyone can handle challenging careers can they?” She sighs.
Selah freezes next to me, her fork suspended in mid-air as she frowns across the table. I set my fork down, my blood pressure rising hearing her mother’s harsh words. Selah’s other hand moves to my leg, squeezing it under the table as she subtly shakes her head at me.
I bite down on my tongue so hard I taste blood, my appetite drying up like the chicken on the plate in front of me.
“Oh!” Bianca chirps, seeming to not have a clue her comment just hurt my girlfriend’s feelings, and likely ruined her appetite. “Clarice, and I started taking these new body sculpting classes at the gym she goes to. You should come down and do it with us now that you’re out of classes. It will tone you up, and help you drop some pounds,” she says, looking expectantly at Selah.
Selah sets her fork down on her plate, and I push mine away from me, having reached my limit of tasteless food, and even more tasteless conversation.
“Why would she need to lose any weight?” I ask calmly, steepling my hands together on the table.
Bianca’s eyebrows knit together, as if I’ve asked an obvious question. “Oh. Well..you know, she’s always had a bit of trouble saying no to sweets and things,” she chuckles. “Her weight has fluctuated since she was a little girl, and I’ve always encouraged her to-“
“She’s pretty perfect from what I can see,” I interject, sitting forward in my seat and looking her in the eyes. “Where would she possibly need to lose weight? Are you a dietician, or some kind of trainer?”
“I-I well no,” Bianca stutters, looking at Carey for help, but he sits in silence, frowning at our exchange. “I just like to keep up with my kids and make sure everyone is healthy, and looking their best.”
I nod, “Wonderful. So maybe you could turn some of that passion to help others towards him,” I suggest, pointing to her husband and his protruding pot belly. “Or does your advice only get offered to my girl?”
Bianca squeaks out a high-pitched sound, opening and closing her mouth like a fish that’s been thrown to shore.
Carey points his finger at me, moving to stand up from his chair, “Now listen here young man-“ he starts, but I’m already done listening. I stand up and move to pull out Selah’s chair for her.
“Thank you for dinner, mother. It was.. just like it always is,” Selah says, scowling over at her.
Bianca ignores her, glaring at me and not bothering to move out of her chair.
I wrap an arm around Selah’s waist, knowing that I need to not leave things quite so messy between them. “Thank you for having us. And no offense meant of course. I’d just love to see you and Selah be able to have some healthier communication. You’re missing all of the wonderful things about her that only takes everyone else moments to realize,” I state.
Carey shakes his head, leaving the room without another word, and Bianca finally stands up. “Selah, I just want what’s best for you,” she clips, moving in front of her and folding her arms over her chest.
Selah keeps her face neutral, but I can still see the hurt inside of her eyes. “I think it would help if you understood who I am before trying to determine what is best for me, mother,” she responds.
Bianca twists her jaw, obviously not willing to apologize, or happy that Selah isn’t capitulating to her lame explanations for being so harsh.
“We will see ourselves out,” I mutter, pulling Selah behind me.
I can’t get the hell out of this house fast enough.
The negative energy is stifling here. For a home so big, it feels more claustrophobic than a closet. I need to get Selah back in a safe place surrounded by love, not whatever the hell it is her mother is handing out here.
We get to my car and take off without any delay, not even bothering to see if Bianca followed us to the front door. The drive back to the cabin is quiet as I hold Selah’s hand and give her time to process everything that just happened.
I park in front of the rental cabin, then reach over to unbuckle her seatbelt. I pull her over to me and sit her in my lap, and she wraps her arms around my neck, immediately burying her nose there. She holds onto me, squeezing me tight against her and I rub her back to soothe her.
I give her all the time she needs to be held and loved on. After a few minutes, she pulls away from me, and the strong facade she had in front of her family is gone. She’s the sweet, vulnerable, girl that feels safe enough to show me all of her hurt and insecurities again.
I wrap my hand around the back of her neck and pull her lips to mine, giving her a soft kiss.
“I don’t want you to listen to a single fucking word of advice either one of them ever give you, Selah,” I snarl, holding her tightly. “I love you exactly how you are, and you’ve accomplished so much in your life. You have made life better for Edison and so many other children in Upwood and Charlestown. And you are the most beautiful woman, inside and out. Don’t let anyone make you feel like you haven’t done enough in your life, or you aren’t the right size, or shape. They’re miserable within themselves, and nothing you do will ever cure their negativity.”
Tears run down her face and she sniffs as I wipe them away. She pulls me in for another kiss, pressing her wet face against mine. I hold her and kiss her with all of the love I have for her, wishing I could transfer it into her body and take away any ounce of doubt she has in the world about what I just told her.
She pulls back after a few moments, and gives me a flustered smile that makes me want to kiss her all over again.
“You’re such a good man, Beckett. Your father would be so proud of you,” she whispers, kissing me on the nose.
A wave of emotion unexpectantly comes over me from her words. I feel a weird sensation tickling my throat, and I clear it so I can speak, “Your father would be proud of you too, angel. He’d be so, so damn proud.”
“Thank you,” she whispers.
She hugs me again and I open the car door, taking her with me inside, exactly where she belongs.