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“Melanie not coming?” Eli asks.
Eli’s mention of this name rings zero bells—again frustrating the life out of me.
His mother is about to respond when his father decides to go first. “Your sister is in Italy currently taking samples from Mount Etna.” His chest expands, in his voice a hint of pride for his daughter.
So, Melanie is Eli’s sister. I should already know this, but then, why should I be surprised that I don’t? I wonder if she’s the eldest or the youngest of the two. Does he have any more siblings? My brain hurts just trying to work it all out.
“Do you know when she’ll be back?” Eli asks.
“By Christmas is all we know for now,” his mother responds.
“You know she was the one who warned all those poor villagers in Indonesia that the volcano was about to erupt,” Eli’s dad sings. "She saved possibly thousands of lives. Such a worthwhile and noble vocation.”
I smile back, about to say how proud they must be when I notice Eli gripping the napkin currently wrapped tightly in one hand. My eyes flit to his mother, who is staring at Eli, a worried frown furrowing her brow.
Noting the change in atmosphere, I decide instead to keep my head down and luckily, soon after, our food arrives, which certainly has my eyes bulging. One by one, a flood of people brings in plates of food: macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, chicken breasts, braised beef green beans, carrots, and surprisingly, gravy and biscuits. Not the sort of food I would think Mr. and Mrs. Prescott would serve for dinner. Maybe family means a family meal to them. Who knows? All I know is it all smells so delicious.
I wait until everyone starts to take some food before I eagerly place a little bit of everything on my plate. Considering that all of it looks amazing, I feel I may as well. However, when I note that the room has gone deathly silent, I glance up to find I’m being stared at, everyone’s mouths apart like I just broke wind at the table or something.
“Are you really going to eat?” Eli’s dad questions in surprise.
My eyes flit around the table before I answer. “Well, yes.”
“But, you’re a model. Models don’t eat.”
Frowning, I say to Mr. Prescott, “How am I to survive if I don’t eat?”
“Aren’t you worried you’re going to get fat?”
Eli glares towards his father and is about to respond when I place my hand over his under the table. “As long as I eat sensibly and keep myself in shape, then I will be fine.”
“Are you sure you’re not pregnant?” he interrogates, causing Eli to almost choke on his wine.
“I am sure,” I respond with gritted teeth. “I’m trying to be healthier.”
“By getting fat.”
“Dad, that’s enough!” Eli booms, and the room turns deathly silent.
Eli’s dad fixes his murderous eyes on his son, his face reddening by the second. “You will not speak to me like that in my house, boy. Do you understand?”
Eli’s mom rushes to place her hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Gregory, please. This is supposed to be a nice family meal. Let us just enjoy it and be courteous for the precious moments that it lasts for.”
Gregory—who I can finally put a name to—breathes in hard as if to try and calm himself, and thankfully it seems to work as he relaxes back in his chair, causing Eli’s mom to do the same. It’s in that moment that, despite her obvious hatred towards me, I feel only sympathy back. I’m guessing she has made it a habit over the years to be the one to calm the obvious temper her husband has. How’s she’s made it all these years without divorcing him is anyone’s guess.
“Eli, I hear your movie is doing so well,” his mom begins as we tuck into our food. “A box office hit already. You must be proud.”
“It was a team effort,” Eli responds after a chewing a mouthful of macaroni and cheese. I pick up a forkful and place it into my mouth. An abundance of flavors explodes inside. Creamy, cheesy goodness with the soft shells of the pasta, and some ingredient that I can’t quite identify, quickly dives down my throat, causing me to pick up another forkful quickly after. I don’t think I have ever tasted mac and cheese as good as this. I just wish I could make out what that flavor is…
“I’m proud of everyone involved on that set,” Eli continues, halting my wayward mac and cheese thoughts. “I believe most will be on the next movie.”
Excitement bubbling, I lean towards Eli. “Oh, what is it about?” I ask eagerly, causing Eli to frown. Obviously, he’s not used to me asking such questions.
He’s about to answer when Gregory interrupts. “No doubt another sappy love story.”
Eli grits his teeth, his body pulsating with anger. Why he’s not saying anything, I don’t know. He wasn’t afraid to stick up for me but remains quiet when his own father puts him down like that.
“I want to know,” I urge, my hand covering his.
