Page 103 of Only After We Met
“It really is.” I ate half my sorbet in one bite.
“It would look terrific on you.”
“On me?”
“Yeah, when you get married. Which I hope will be soon. You’re not a spring chicken anymore. I think the way it’s cut would flatter you.”
“Honestly, I don’t think it will be soon.”
“I could get married too,” Donna said.
“Oh, sweetie, I know, but your sister…”
“To Amanda, I mean. We’ve talked about it.”
“Have you?” My father seemed surprised.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t we?”
“You haven’t been together long.”
“I don’t even have a boyfriend,” I reminded my parents.
“What about that boy…? The one who came for your birthday that one year. Rhys, I think his name was.”
“We’re just friends, Mom.”
“He was handsome,” she sighed in resignation.
“Not especially classy,” Dad said.
“Why do you judge people like that?” Donna rolled her eyes. “You should get with the times. I feel like you’re stuck in the Middle Ages.”
“You’re forgetting a few things. Your father and I are very happy with each other. What matters to us is your stability. Look at Dean: so young and so focused on the important things. What’s wrong with knowing what you’re doing? If you really want to marry Amanda, that’s wonderful. As for you, Ginger, stop drinking. Your cheeks are turning red.”
“I’m trying to anesthetize myself,” I said. Donna laughed.
I still was a while later. After the meal came the dancing and the cocktail service. I had my fair share with Donna, sitting at a table with younger people we knew from work, laughing softly every time one of us said something stupid and analyzing the dance moves of the guys further off, who were trying to add their flair to the celebration. I don’t know how much time had passed or how many drinks I’d consumed when I heard my name. I knitted my brows, finished what was left in my glass, and turned around.
“Ginger, I think it’s your turn,” Mrs. Wilson said.
“My turn?” I babbled, a little woozy.
“You were supposed to give a speech,” Donna reminded me.
Shit, shit, shit.I wasn’t in any shape to give a speech, but there, in the silent room, I stood up with all the dignity I could muster and waddled like a dizzy duck in my high heels to the center of the crowd. I started sweating in front of the microphone. From my handbag, I withdrew a couple of wrinkled pieces of paper. In theory, I was going to talk about what wonderful friends I had been with Dean ever since we were little, what a beautiful couple he and Stella made, and how proud I was of him. But all I saw was a bunch of blurry letters in no order whatsoever. So I put my so-called speech away.
“Well, I, this…” I cleared my throat. “All I’d like to say is, I’ve known Dean since…I mean, since we were pooping in our diapers. And peeing. Peeing too, obviously. We’re human beings.” I heard some chuckles, but I didn’t know why. “We grew up together, then we started going out, and then he left me.” Deep silence. “And the moral of all that is, it had to happen, because he had to meet Stella,right?! Stella, by the way, the most gorgeous girl I’ve ever seen. Stella, I want your hair and eyelashes!” More laughter. She smiled from her table, and that encouraged me. “You make an incredible couple! Like Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston! Before the cheating and the divorce, I mean. Anyway, I’m happy for you, and I was thinking today about decisions and crossing paths and how some changes are worth it. I’m happy you met. It was destiny.”
I heard applause, and I took a deep breath, trying to keep my balance.
“I also want to add that I’m going to give you a very special gift, Dean. Besides just the high-powered blender for making smoothies and stuff. Shit! I ruined the surprise. Whatever. The other gift is…my job! That’s right, I’m giving you my job. And my office. It’s horrible. I hate it so, so much…”
This time, there was no applause. Just murmurs.
Donna started walking over.
“I think… I think you’ll do an incredible job at the company,” I went on. I couldn’t stop myself; it was as if all of a sudden I was vomiting everything up. “And that’s only to be expected. You’re an incredible guy. So smart. Just so you know, the desk wobbles a little, but…”