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Chapter Eleven
“Stop crying. I can’t understand a word you’re saying,” DeeDee said while stroking her back.
“He…I…it…was horrible,” she sobbed.
“What was?” DeeDee asked.
Shanda pulled away and wiped her cheeks, then pulled out another tissue and blew her nose. “The dinner. They…hated me,” she sniffed. “I sat there without anything…to contribute. I’m so…stupid,” she sobbed.
“Wait one damn minute. Did Kenneth say you were dumb? Because if he did, I’m going to go to Boston and—”
“No. He didn’t,” she sniffed.
“Did his parents call you stupid? I mean, I respect my elders, but I have no problem telling them off.”
Shanda shook her head. “No one called me anything. It’s just the truth. They all spoke about things that I had no idea what it all meant.”
“What does that have to do with your intelligence?” DeeDee asked. “Oh wait, nothing. So what you don’t know everything? Neither do they.”
“DeeDee, I didn’t even go to college and they are all so…successful.” Very successful.
“That’s just money. It doesn’t mean someone is intelligent, or better yet, a good person. You are both. If they couldn’t see that, then they’re the dumb ones,” she said firmly. “Now tell me what Kenneth thought, because really, that’s all that matters.”
“How can you say that? When you marry someone, you marry their family. If the family doesn’t like you, you’re doomed for sure,” Shanda stated.
“I won’t tell you it’s easy, but you still make it work. Look at Larry’s brother Carl. His in-laws can’t stand him. But he and his wife have been married for almost ten years.”
“I’m not sure that is a good example. Carl is a pain in the ass,” Shanda said, wrinkling her nose. “Remember when we had that cookout and he got drunk and decided to take a leak in Mom’s planter on the porch?”
DeeDee chuckled. “God that was hilarious. Well not really, but seeing Mom’s face turn like, four shades of red and never even utter a word, well that was great.”
“She didn’t need to talk. Dad picking him up and dumping his drunken ass in a barrel of ice water was enough.” Shanda couldn’t help but smile just thinking back on it. “I don’t think he’s come to another family event since.” They both laughed.
“Don’t think he’s been invited. But they are still married.”
Is that a good thing?
“Kenneth and I are different. He’s so…professional,” she chose not to say rich, “and I’m so…casual.”
“You own a business. That is very professional.”
“I live in the country and he lives in Boston.” In a penthouse.
“Is it the commute that you’re worried about?” DeeDee asked.
Shanda shook her head. “No. It’s our lifestyle differences. I don’t fit in his any more than he fits in mine.”
DeeDee looked at her long and hard, and then said, “You’re judging him. He’s not judging you.”
“I’m not judging. I’m stating facts. There is a huge difference. It would be naïve of me not to acknowledge it,” she defended herself.
“And it is also a great way to put up a wall so that you can’t get hurt just in case things don’t work out. Am I right?” DeeDee asked.
“It’s not if, it’s when. Things have moved too fast with us to be real. It’s like we’re caught up in some fairytale and you know I don’t believe in those.”
“Love is wonderful, but it is also work. You only get what you put in. What are you willing to put in Shanda? Is he worth your time, your effort, your heart?”
Yes. I’m just not sure I’m worth his.
