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“Nice to see you again,” I said, trying hard to keep the shake from my voice. I was embarrassed that I’d run away from them all those months ago. I honestly didn’t think Trask and I would get this far and I’d ever have to interact with his parents again. I clutched at Trask’s hand.
“Trask has told us so much about you,” Faye said. Trask slightly shook his head, hiding a smile. “So, tell us, what do you do?”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “For work or for school or for fun?” I could feel myself rambling.Get a grip, Eliza.
“All the above,” Faye said, a tight smile across her face. Her teeth had maroon lipstick across them and for a moment it looked like blood and I’d be her next victim.
“Well, I’m going to Clark and Lo. I study Creative Writing and Business. And for work? Well, I guess the simplest thing to say would be a freelance writer.”
I squeezed Trask’s hand from under the table, hoping he’d jump in. He must have gotten the hint because he said, “We met in my essay class. She came to tutoring for math, and we just clicked.”
“How nice,” Faye said in a tone that did not convey that this was nice. At. All. “Karen! Ken! Karina! Glad you found the table!”
Karina stood next to her parents in a brilliant emerald gown. It was sleeveless and hugged her curves well. I shifted in my seat. I knew Karina would be here, but I was unprepared for how uncomfortable it would make me now that she literally stood over me.
Trask leaned into me, his lips grazing my ear. “I am leaning in close like this because it is making Karina fume. Also, say the word and I will take you outside and give you another round of that stress relief.”
I blushed. I could feel it spreading across my chest and face. Karina sat next to Faye, chatting like the little lady she was, but I didn’t miss her little side-eye.
“Eliza Walsh, honey is that you?”
“Hello Mrs. Denvers,” I said. Okay, I wasnotprepared for the way the matriarch’s eyes bored into mine. Karen wore a black, floor-length dress with a red shawl over her shoulders.
“What on earth brings you here?” Karen asked. Faye was clearly enjoying this line of questioning.
“She’s my date,” Trask said, wrapping his arm over the back of my chair.
“I see,” Karen said, glancing at Faye like it was her fault. “How have you been, Eliza? After everything that happened, I wasn’t sure you were still around.”
“Still around,” I said, my voice tight. “Taking classes at Clark and Lo. Staying with my grandparents.”
“Oh, I see.” Mrs. Denvers knew of my grandparents, and for a moment her face softened. “How are they?”
“The same as always.” The same drunks, the same druggies, the same people. They’d always been this way, and Karen Denvers knew it.
“Trask,” Karina started, “how’s the capstone project going?”
“Just fine. I’m planning on getting it smoothed out during the break so I can send it to a few people to check over.”
“Oh great,” Karina said, a smile flashing across her face. “It’s weird not having so many classes together now.”
“Makes sense though,” Trask said. I thought he’d add more but his clipped response seemed to be all he was going to say. Ken and Randy were talking business and Karen turned her attention to me once again.
“Eliza dear, have you heard from your mother?”
“Nope,” I said. Last I heard she was in prison. She could be out wandering the world or still knocking her head against a cell for all I knew.
“Shame,” Karen said, leaning into Faye and Karina to mumble something.
I used to spend a lot of time at the Denvers’ house in high school. She knew what was happening with my mom and my grandparents. She’d pack my backpack full of snacks whenever I left. Funny how things changed, because she was the hand that managed to take almost everything from me.
“How’s your family?” Trask asked.
“They’re fine,” Karen said. “Karina has been keeping busy, we miss seeing you around the house.”
Trask only smiled and took a gulp of wine. I followed suit.
“So, tell me,” Randy decided to jump into the conversation. “What exactly do you do as a freelance writer?”
