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Jonah cleared his throat once everyone was seated. “I’m glad you could all be here. And thank you to everyone who,” he looked at the spread in front of him, “helped with the, uh, food.”
I had a feeling he would be eating a lot of cookies later.
“I hope it isn’t cold,” his mother spewed.
“It will be fine,” Jonah’s tone said to knock it off. That made his mom glare at me.
For a small moment, I thought I might survive. While everyone was filling their plates, Eliza, Carol, and Paul seemed content to talk amongst themselves about world news and politics, which I wasn’t touching with a ten-foot pole. But once everyone started eating, Carol and Paul wanted to show Jonah what he was missing out on with Eliza, while also showcasing the differences between Eliza and me.
“Eliza, I heard from your mother that there was a write-up about you in Forbes Magazine. I’m going to need a copy of that,” Carol gushed.
Eliza flashed me a grin before she responded. “Yes. I was asked to take part in an exposé about unstoppable women. It will be out next quarter.”
“I’m going to get ten copies. We always said you were a winner.” Carol gave Jonah a meaningful look.
I got it. She meant I was a loser. Well, this loser was going to focus on what was important in her life—the people she loved. And swallowing down the roasted broccoli that hadn’t been seasoned at all. Hadn’t these people ever heard of salt?
“Did you have fun with Tabitha yesterday at the children’s museum?” I asked Whitney.
Whitney’s eyes lit up. “We played chess with pieces as tall as me. And I won.”
“That’s amazing. I’m proud of you.”
My praise for Whitney got Eliza’s attention. “Whitney, tell me what you learned there.” Eliza gave me a condescending look as if I had no idea how to deal with a child.
Whitney thought for a moment. Her lips began to quiver. “Well, I . . .”
“It’s okay, honey,” Jonah entered the fray. “Sometimes it’s good just to have fun.”
Whitney’s tiny shoulders sagged. “I did paint.” Poor thing didn’t want to disappoint her mother.
Jonah scowled at Eliza.
Eliza squared her shoulders and gave Jonah a pointed look. I, on the other hand, put my arm around Whitney. “I can’t wait to see your painting.”
Whitney looked up at me with her big green eyes. “It’s a picture of you and me decorating the Christmas tree. I painted the clothespin dolls we made.”
I tapped her nose and almost cried. That was the sweetest thing. “I bet it’s the best picture ever.”
Controlled Eliza dropped her fork and it clanged against the fine china—which was also not Jonah’s. I’m not sure how all this froufrou stuff got here, but it was of little consequence now that the holy war had begun.
“I did not realize how crafty you are,” Eliza said curtly.
“Jonah said you were still making stained glass for a living. I didn’t even know that was a viable profession anymore.” Carol turned up her nose at me. I guess that meant they were going to hate their presents from me. Why I ever thought I should bother, I didn’t know. I would keep the mosaics for myself.
I squeezed Jonah’s thigh under the table. “It pays the bills, but thank you for your concern.” My sarcasm lit an unquenchable fire making Carol’s gloves come off.
Carol wiped her mouth with a white linen napkin. “Where do you learn to do something like that?”
“At the hand of my grandma.” I was proud to admit.
“Oh, that’s right, I forgot you didn’t go to school.” She smiled in that condescending sort of way.
“Mom,” Jonah’s tone warned her, “don’t go down this road.”
“What road is that? The one where you’re throwing your life away? Look at you, with an earring and making a third of the money you were back in Connecticut. All for what?” Carol glowered at me.
In that moment, I felt smaller than I had in a long time, but then I remembered that I wasn’t a child anymore. I wasn’t helpless. I did like Dr. Morales said and listed in my head all the things I had in my power. On top of my list was the ability to walk, and transportation. I pushed my chair back, making it screech against the tile floor, and stood. “I’ll be going now.”
Jonah grabbed my hand. “Please don’t go,” he pled. He whipped his head toward his parents and Eliza and addressed them. “Don’t make me choose. You won’t like the outcome.”
I hated this. I would never make Jonah choose. “Merry Christmas, everyone.” I leaned down and kissed Whitney’s head. “I love you.” The words fell out of my mouth so naturally. But it was true, I did love her, and it was why I was going to leave. I refused to cause any rifts in her family. “I hope Santa Claus is good to you tonight.”
