After pulling away, I turned to Gavin.
“Gav... can I talk to you on the patio for a sec?” I asked with a forced, wavering smile still on my face.
He followed me to the back as I practically ripped the sliding door open.
“What the hell is wrong with you!” I seethed, turning to face him.
He ran his hands down his face. “They showed up at the firm when I was finishing up and wanted to come over to see you and have dinner.”
I crossed my arms so tightly my nails dug into my skin. “A little warning would have been nice, Gavin.”
“I never understand why it is such a big deal.” He lifted his shoulders in defense, his tone bordering on exasperated.
I narrowed my eyes at him in almost disbelief. “It’s a big deal because I’d like to mentally prepare myself for being belittled all night by your mother and looked down upon by your father instead of putting my effort into trying to enjoy my time to myself while I plan for a busy week and try to catch up on bills. Crystal clear now, isn’t it?”
He placed his hands on the sides of my face as he sighed. “Please, Rosenna. I’m sorry for springing this on you right now, but it’s just one evening.”
I shook my head. “Gavin, it’s one evening to you, but it’s my self-worth and esteem that’s on the line here.”
“I know, I know. She can be a bit… difficult, but it’s just one dinner. If I turn them away now, it just makes things worse. Please just get through tonight.For me?”
I contemplated for a short while, his eyes begged me to go through with the dreadful impending evening. I groaned internally as I looked away from his pleading gaze and went back inside. Going into the kitchen, I pulled out some ingredients to make steak, mashed potatoes, and asparagus.
Not that Gavin particularly liked steak prepared like this, but his mother did, and tonight, his opinion would be based on how she felt. Taking my cardigan off, I set it on the island chair as I discreetly watch Gavin go back over to his parents to laugh and talk as if I didn’t exist… but I didn’t mind it. Anytime I can get away from speaking to his mother, I appreciate it greatly.
An hour or so later, Gavin returned to the kitchen, though only to see if I was finished with dinner, of course.“Because my son wouldn’t be caught dead or alive in the kitchen cooking if he had a wife,”was what she said to me a few years back when Gavin had cooked breakfast for the two of us.
“Looks good,” he muttered as I finished plating everything.
“I know.”
He remained silent as I walked over to the dining room to see his parents waiting expectantly.
“It’s seven PM, Rosie… I’d think you’d have enough time to finish dinner a little earlier. You barely do anything all day as it is,” Nancy chastised as I placed the plate in front of her.
I gave a tight-lipped smile.Do not engage. Let it go.
“Well, I wasn’t just doing nothing all day, and sometimes, Gavin comes a bit late from the office, so I don’t want his food to get cold.”
“Oh, nonsense. You just want to make excuses for your laziness. A good wife should have dinner ready on time, regardless of her husband’s schedule. I only have to wonder when was the last time you made him a proper meal. Probably a while considering Myrtle seems to be running the show around here. Poor thing.” Her tone was patronizing as she looked over at Gavin, who brought over the other two plates. “Why don’t you let Rosie take care of that, son? It’s her job, you know.”
He placed the plates where he and I would be sitting, chuckling harmlessly as I placed his father’s plate down. “Just giving her a quick hand, Mother.”
I ignored them all as I walked toward the kitchen to grab the much-needed wine I’d taken out from the cellar, as well as four wine glasses.
Much to Nancy’s dismay, when I returned to the dining room Gavin released me from my server duties, ushering me to sit in the seat beside him before he did us the honor of pouring the wine himself.
As we dug in, Patrick asked, “How’s business, Rosenna?”
I chewed a mouthful of mashed potatoes. “Going pretty well, actually. I’ve got a few new clients and deals going, so that’s a plus.” I ignored Gavin taking a swig of wine, as if to drown out the impending conversation.
“It’s a lot of work, I’m sure. It makes me wonder if you are not too stretched thin, you know? We wouldn’t want your relationship to be under pressure from this.”
Nancy inserted herself into the conversation per usual. “What you really need to do is spend more time in the kitchen and cleaning up around here. The food is just okay, you know. It could be better.”
Like Gavin, I took a rather large gulp of my wine to help me bite back my tongue.
Nancy went on, though: “How is a good wife going to juggle all of these responsibilities and commit to her role in the home?No wonder you aren’t ready to have a child.”
