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“So do you,” Stacy shot back.
“They’re our parents,” Tam said. “Don’t we want them to be in a loving, committed relationship?”
“I do,” Cara said.
“People in those kinds of relationships kiss,” Tam said. “It’s not gross.”
“It is to me,” Stacy said. “I’m allowed to have my own opinions.”
“Maybe you should learn to keep them to yourself, though,” Tam said. For some reason, she really wasn’t going to take anything from Stacy today. Maybe it was her own ragged nerves. Maybe she simply couldn’t add more to her already overstuffed mind.
“Don’t tell her what to do,” Rupert said.
“Whatever,” Tam said, looking back to the head of the table, where her parents stood watching and listening to their children bicker and bite at each other. Tam didn’t know how to stop herself from doing it. She’d taken so much from Stacy over the years, and she just couldn’t keep doing it.
“Go on, Momma,” she said.
Her mother reached for another present, and Stacy said, “I think that’s from us.”
“No, it’s not,” Cara said. “Daddy got that for Momma.”
“Didn’t you bring that one, Rupert?”
He looked at Stacy with such an utter look of confusion and surprise, and Tam didn’t understand what she was doing. Literally everyone in the room knew Stacy and Rupert had not brought a present for the anniversary party.
“I think we brought it,” Stacy said.
“What’s in it, then?” Tam challenged, her sassy side rearing its ugly head.
“It doesn’t matter,” Momma said, slipping her fingernail under the wrapping to open the gift.
“It matters,” Tam said, jumping to her feet. “It they brought this gift, they’ll know what’s in it.” She snatched the box from her mother before she could get any more of it open. She held up the boxy package. “So what is it?”
“Wow, it’s no wonder you’re not married or engaged yet,” Stacy said. “Honestly, who wants to live with the control freak?”
Though she’d heard it before, her sister’s assessment of her still stung. Tam ignored her, which was what she should’ve done in the first place.
She handed the package back to Momma with a murmured apology. She returned to her seat, a very disgruntled wave of emotion flowing through her. Why had Stacy even bothered to come?
Probably for the free food, Tam thought. Rupert ate an entire tray of fresh shrimp by himself, and Tam couldn’t help watching him as he sat on the other side of the table from her.
Soft music played in the background, and Daddy said, “Time for dessert.”
“Thanks for inviting us,” Cara said.
“Of course,” Momma said. “This is about our family now, not just the two of us.”
“We are the beginning of us,” Daddy said, and Tam wasn’t sure what that was supposed to mean.
Momma went into the kitchen and retrieved the pies she’d made. “Cherry, apple, or pecan.”
“That’s all you’ve got?” Stacy asked.
Cara opened her mouth to say something, thought better of it, and just looked to Mom.
Three pies for seven people was plenty, and Stacy hadn’t even responded when their mother had asked for suggestions for the pie flavors for this very party only a week ago.
Momma and Daddy worked together to dish up the pie and add as much ice cream as someone wanted.
