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“Just a little high school French, I’m afraid,” I said, and before she could say anything further, added, “And please don’t test me. I would need a refresher, as I’m sure you’re fluent, aren’t you?”
“We actually did Mandarin immersion as children,” she said, looking at Collin adoringly.
“Better for business,” Hayes declared, and Haven nodded along.
Gale said something to Collin in Mandarin and he replied, instantly annoying me. Chloe started to add to the conversation, but then Calliope cleared her throat.
“This is really fucking rude.”
“Calliope!” Haven exclaimed.
“Well, it is. I didn’t go to Mandarin immersion.”
“You didn’t have the attention span for Mandarin,” Hayes musedaloud. “She knows French,” Hayes said to me, as if I gave an actual shit.
“Barely,” Chloe added.
“Casse-toi.French enough for you?” Calliope hissed at her sister.
“Oh, real nice.” Chloe rolled her eyes.
“That’s enough,” Haven barked.
As obnoxious as they were, it was amusing to see a real family’s dysfunctional dynamics emerge right in front of my eyes. It was like watching a play. I could find myself a role in this theater of the absurd, I was sure of it. Just as I’d always suspected, all families are a few snide comments away from a full-blown feud, in front of guests no less. Long-standing rifts always bubbling to the surface, all members dying to tell the others how they really feel. I wanted to get involved, egg them on, take sides, play favorites, keep secrets for years on end, let one blow at an opportune moment years down the line and—
“Did you go to France in high school, Bea? To study?” Gale asked me, yanking me right out of my reverie as the new rabble-rouser of the kingdom.
“No, but English has worked out for me, I suppose. I’ve managed to find my way in the world just fine,” I said to her, looking around the home that I wanted to make my own someday, putting a hand on Collin’s shoulder. “I’m having such a wonderful time, Mrs.Case. You’re an incredible hostess.”
Gale took a frustrated bite of brioche.
“Thank you, Bea. It’s quite an operation, but I take a lot of pride in keeping this home afloat.” God, she meant it, too! What a laughable estimation of her so-called responsibilities. How could she even say those things aloud when we could see all the people working for her, not to mention those that were behind the scenes?
“Mom does a great job with all of our homes,” said Collin. “I wasactually thinking about taking Bea to the Southampton house for Memorial Day weekend.”
Haven looked at Collin, puzzled. Hayes cleared his throat.
“I heard Chloe was using the Southampton house for Memorial Day weekend,” Gale said knowingly.
“That’s true,” Chloe said, slightly annoyed that Gale made a revelation that wasn’t her own. “I’m hosting a mixer to kick off the summer.”
“A mixer? Were you going to invite us?” Collin asked her, slightly annoyed.
“It’s a singles mixer,” Chloe replied. “So...”
“This is the first I’ve heard of any mixer. Who’s doing your list?” Haven asked, clearly offended she wasn’t involved in the party planning.
“I have the list under control, Mom.”
“Areyougoing, Gale?” I asked, testing the waters for general knowledge about her alleged lover, Luke from Duke. Chloe openly grimaced. Not that Gale would want to go to Chloe’s mixer, lest it take away from time better spent pining after Collin, but she obviously wasn’t on Chloe’s list.
“I have plans,” Gale said, offering nothing further. Chloe looked relieved.
“Oh! With Luke?” I grinned.
“Who’s Lewwwww-k?” Calliope trilled, tapping her toes under the table.
“Gale’s new beau,” I announced joyfully.
