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Just an invitation to their anniversary party. Nothing else. No letter, no apology, nothing indicating that they want to talk to me. Just an invite that they most likely sent to three or four dozen other people. As if I’m just another guest to their party, and not their only fucking daughter.
A disbelieving scoff escapes me, even though I know I shouldn’t be surprised. When have my parents ever decided to be the bigger people? I hate the pain that lances through me, squeezing my chest at the disappointment that begins to flood. Instead of focusing on that, I pull out my phone and dial my brother’s number, putting him on speaker and resting my phone on the counter where I brace my hands.
The call goes for a couple of rings before it connects and my brother answers with a, “Yellow?”
I roll my eyes. My tone is tight as I inform him, “I got Mom and Dad’s anniversary invite in the mail today.”
“Really?” Cody asks.
“Mhm,” I hum, running my tongue over my teeth. “Justthe invite. There was no—they didn’t even send a letter or a note with it to even acknowledge the last few years of radio fucking silence.”
“Are you serious?” This time, the surprise is clear in my brother’s voice. “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”
I smile sardonically, despite the annoyed heat that rises beneath my skin. “Nope,” I say with a shake of my head. “We haven’t talked inyearsand they just expect me to show up to their damn party like nothing has happened? Are they delusional?”
Cody scoffs, and I can just picture him shaking his head in his own disbelief. “Unbelievable,” he mutters. “So much formaking amends.”
I raise my eyebrows at my phone screen, heart thumping. “Is that what they told you?” I demand. “They said they wanted to make amends with me?”
“They definitely heavily implied it, yeah,” he says. “Just ask Lou,” he adds, referring to his girlfriend, Louisa. “Maybe they’re waiting to talk to you at the party?”
I frown, not quite believing that. “They wouldn’t do that,” I say with a shake of my head. “They wouldn’t want to risk making a scene in front of all of their guests.” I roll my eyes. “So, now I’m wondering if they actually want me to attend this stupid party, or have the advantage of telling people they reached out to me and I just ignored them if I don’t show up. You know they’ll do whatever necessary to make themselves look better.”
“God, yeah.” Cody huffs out a sharp breath. “So, you’re not going to go then, I’m assuming?”
Twisting my lips to the side, my gaze slides over to the invitation. The party is in a little over two weeks, and part of me feels as though I shouldn’t even be thinking about it. That I should just pretend like I never got this invite and go on with my life. Especially because I really do believe my parents won’t make us having a conversation a big deal. If I go, they will probably just pretend that everything is great, like they didn’t spend these last few years ignoring their daughter and granddaughter.
Still, I sigh and say, “I don’t know.”
Cody is silent for a moment. “You know who you should talk to about this?” I hum in question. “Grandma.”
I straighten, pressing my tongue to the inside of my cheek. The mention of my grandmother brings an automatic smile to my face, and I reach for my phone. “That’s a good idea, actually. Let me call her now.”
“Don’t know why you’re surprised. I’m a genius,” Cody quips, which only makes me snort out a laugh. “Talk to you later.”
We hang up, and before I dial Grandma Alice, I quickly go to the sink and wash my hands. Over my shoulder, I call out, “Elaine, do you want mac and cheese?”
I hear her shout back from her room, “Yes, please!”
She doesn’t really like to eat much after school until dinner, just a little something to snack on. So, I put the water on the stove to boil for the mac and cheese, and while I wait for that, I call my grandmother. Knowing her, right about now she’s probably relaxing on her patio that faces the beach with a book in hand.
She picks up a few rings later. “How’s my favorite granddaughter?”
I laugh, leaning back against the counter. “I don’t think you’re actually supposed to say you have favorites, Grams.”
Grandma Alice scoffs. “Everyone already knows you’re mine.” She’s got a point there. “How are you, baby?”
We chat for a little while, making small talk and catching up. I tell her about Elaine, and she tells me about some hunk—her words, not mine—living across from her that she has set her eyes on for the last few months. It’s extremely amusing and I encourage her to make a move, and I wish I was there to witness Grandma Alice’s new blossoming love.
“I wanted your advice on something,” I say eventually, pouring the box of mac and cheese in the bubbling water.
“Everything alright?” she asks, concern evident in her voice.
I hum. “Yeah, for the most part,” I say with a chuckle. “I, uh—Mom and Dad’s anniversary is coming up and they’re throwing a party. They sent me an invitation in the mail—”
Grandma scoffs, disbelief evident in the sound alone. “Have you spoken to them?”
“Not for a long time, no,” I confirm.
