My father is at the bar with my uncle and a couple other men and judging by the half empty glass in front of him, he’s on his way to drunk. I used to wonder how he tolerates my mother, but as soon as I was old enough to understand, I knew. He just detaches from reality with alcohol. Staying just sober enough to do his part at Chapman Consulting, and that’s it.
I lead Jude straight over to Nana, who, thankfully, is only chatting with one other person, someone I don’t even recognize.
“There are my darlings!” she says excitedly, grabbing first me and then Jude in her strong embrace. “Thank you both for coming, I’m so pleased to see you.”
“Happy birthday, Nana,” I say, handing over the small box I wrapped earlier. It’s an early edition ofThe Great Gatsby, one of her favourite classics.
“Thank you for extending the invitation, Margaret,” Jude says warmly, producing the bouquet of flowers he had when I picked him up earlier. I was so touched that he thought to get her something, we were almost late for lunch as I showed him just how much it meant to me.
“Well, aren’t you quite the charmer. Thank you, Jude.” Nana pats him on the arm. “The two of you make such a lovely couple.”
We stay and chat with Nana for another minute before Aunt Dora walks over, giving me the barest nod and ignoring Jude completely. She leans in toward Nana and speaks far too loudly, as if Nana’s going deaf, which she, of course, is not.
“Mother, you need to come and spend some time with your other guests.”
Nana gives me an apologetic smile and lets herself be led away. I exhale loudly as Jude wraps his arm around me. “Your aunt is such a lovely person.”
A pained laugh escapes me at his obvious sarcasm. “Yeah, well, you knew what you were in for, coming here.”
His lips land on my forehead. “I did. And I told you, you donotneed to face the firing squad alone.”
“Thank you.” I smile up at him.
“How about I go get you a drink. Beer? Or stronger?”
This time my laugh isn’t quite so harsh. “Better stick to beer. My dad’s probably going to be drunk enough for everyone.”
Jude’s wince is a sympathetic one. “Got it. Beer, coming up. Don’t run away without me, okay?”
“Promise.”
I move over to the corner of the private room my family rented out and lean against the wall.
My eyes linger on him to the point that I don’t notice my mother’s approach.
“That’s what you chose to wear to your elderly grandmother’s birthday luncheon? Really, Lilian.”
A knot immediately forms in my stomach as I stand up straight. “Hello, Mother.”
Her eyes rake up and down my body, and I hate how it makes me want to cover up. I love my dress. It’s one of my favourites, with swirls of maroon and navy mixed with white flowers. Okay, so it shows some cleavage and lands above my knees. So what? My arms are covered, my hair is up in a subtle twist, and I even kept my earrings relatively subdued — or at least, I thought I did. I guess the teardrop cascade of gemstones is too much for her.
Everything I do, or say, or wear is too much, and yet, not enough at the same time.
But when Jude saw me in the flowy wrap dress I chose, his reaction made me feel beautiful.
“That’s all you have to say for yourself?” She grabs my arm and yanks me around the corner so we’re just outside the room. “You look like a trollop. A slight gust of wind and you’ll be showing the world your underwear. Honestly, Lilian, are you so desperate for attention you feel the need to dress provocatively, even to a family event? It’s disgraceful, Lilian, an absolute embarrassment.”
“If you ask me, you’re the embarrassment.” Jude’s hard voice comes from behind me. His arm wraps around my waist, and when I chance a quick look, the rage I sense emanating from him almost knocks me back. “You try to hide how horrible a person you are, but guess what? I see it, I hear it.”
His voice is loud enough to carry into the other room, and soon, my family and other guests have migrated close enough to hear.
“I don’t know how you sleep at night, knowing that you call your own daughter a slut, simply because you don’t like her clothes. You’ve criticized every decision she’s made, belittled her very successful career, and made her feel worthless her entire life. For God’s sake, you turned a blind eye when her own cousin stole her boyfriend from her, then repeatedly made Lily feel likeshewas the problem. You don’t deserve the title of mother. Because a mother is meant to love their child, defend them,protectthem from abusers like you.”
Someone gasps when he says the wordabuser, but Jude doesn’t even flinch. My mother, on the other hand, is turning beet red. I expect her to explode at him any moment, but Jude isn’t finished.
“Your family is the disgrace. You all think you’re above reproach, but from the little I’ve seen, you’re nothing but arrogant, narcissistic assholes. You don’t deserve to breathe the same air as Lily, much less be near her or speak to her. And I’m going to make damn sure you don’t have the chance to hurt her, ever again.”
“Alice, is what he claims true?”
