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“This was where Curt and I went for our first date on the island,” my mother coos dreamily, as if it was the most romantic thing ever.
Daisy and I shoot each other a look, and there’s mirth sparkling from her gaze.
“Hmm, that’s interesting, isn’t it? Since this was where I believe he took my mother for her first date as well,” Noah remarks casually, freezing the air in the room. “How unoriginal.”
Curt shifts awkwardly in his seat while my mother’s cheeks flush; this time it’s not with happiness but with utter embarrassment.
“I’m sure we’ll make a lot more good memories here then if it has such a rich history,” Daisy gently inserts, coaxing thankful smiles from Curt and Mom. “Makes sense why you would want to celebrate here. It has meaning. I think that’s pretty damn original to me.”
Noah huffs in annoyance, but whatever vitriol he had built up in the tank is cut off by the entrance of our server—the same one he flirted with last time we were here together.
All glimmers of resentment and pouting fade from Noah’s features as her gaze immediately flits to his. She stutter steps for a moment before glancing over at Mom and Curt, who I’m sure she’d been apprised were celebrating their wedding.
“Hello again,” she squeaks, and I’m getting déjà vu.
This place really is the gift that keeps on giving.
“A bottle of champagne for the table,” announces Curt before Noah can begin flirting—which I can tell by his upturned lips and heavy lidded gaze is definitely going to happen.
“Alright! Now that’s what I’m talking about!” cheers Daisy. “I knew I liked you, Curt.”
Mom rolls her eyes since we definitely have ano alcohol for minorspolicy at our house…or at least we had a strict ‘don’t let me ever find out’ policy. Daisy has been partying for at least a few years, and I know she’s snuck in drunk quite a few of those nights.
“Only a sip.” Mom smiles, but it’s obvious she’s too happy to really care if we do more than sip.
“Of course,” the waitress responds, appearing eager all of a sudden. The way she rushes from the room gives me the feeling they don’t have very many of those requests here, even though champagne is the first thing listed on the drink menu.
There’s a long, uncomfortable silence after she leaves, until Curt clears his throat.
“Anything you girls need for moving in to make things more comfortable?” he asks sincerely.
It’s almost weird to see him being genuinely nice. My father’s kindness comes with strings. Usually, he’s only nice when he wants something or is making up for all the times he’s disappointed my sister and me.
It never works because we can obviously see right through it, even if we don’t call him out on it. Scratch that. Even ifIdon't call him out on it. Daisy isn’t shy about throwing it in his face. The many visits he’s missed over the years have resulted in quite a few random gifts. Daisy doesn’t even so much as open the wrapped presents, throwing them in the trash immediately. But I keep everything. Because a gift from him is better than nothing when you’re desperate for a father to love you.
“I mean, if you’re offering, I’d love a car,” Daisy teases, wondering just how far Curt will go to win our affection.
“Daisy!” my mother admonishes, eyes wide in mortification.
Daisy and I burst out in a fit of giggles since one of our favorite games is seeing how exasperated we can make our mother in public.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Curt promises, putting an end to our laughter when he actually appears serious.
My sister’s eyes almost glaze over at the thought she can actually win a car out of this marriage, but before she has time to say something, one of Noah’s trademark scoffs sounds in the room.
“I’m going to take a piss,” he announces angrily before jumping from his chair, almost sending it toppling to the floor, and striding out of the room.
Silence descends once again with his retreat. Curt stares after his son, frustration and annoyance written all over his face with each step he takes. It’s only when Noah disappears that Curt finally sighs.
“I’m sorry about that, girls. Noah…is having a rough time.”
“As anyone would if they lost their mom,” I respond coldly, surprising everyone with my slip of the tongue, including myself.
I have no idea why I’m defending him, but it seems like Curt expects Noah to be over it already…like he seems to be. And that’s not fair at all. If you truly love someone, and you lost them, the pain never goes away. Grief isn’t something you can simply switch off, and asking someone to get over such loss when it’s no longer convenient for you is not only selfish…but purely shitty.
Which makes me wonder how much Curt loved his first wife in the first place.
“I’m going to use the restroom too,” I say quietly, not liking the edge of disappointment in my mom’s gaze, like I’ve done something wrong.
