“I think Lisa has an apartment in mind; why don’t you ask her?”
“No doubt it’s one of those ghastly things in an even ghastlier neighborhood. Leave it to us. We’ll find something much better, I promise.”
“Safer, nicer for her? Sounds good to me.”
“That’s a good man.”
I didn’t even realize her grandfather Davenport was still standing behind me until he said that and clapped me on the shoulder. “I think you’ll find when it comes to the women that it works best if you just nod your head and agree. Our Annalisa thinks she’s different, but trust me, she’s not.”
“I can vouch for that.” Grandpa Astor piped in. “I married her grandmother and raised her mother; it’s only a matter of time.”
“I know!” I can’t wait.
LISA
I’m not sure how either of us made it through last night. After my relatives descended on us bearing gifts of food, they proceeded to spend the next few hours regaling us with stories of my youth. Silly me, I became complacent. They were being so good to Cody, to both of us actually, and no sideliners were coming out of left field. Everyone was on their best behavior.
At some point, and I’m not sure exactly when it finally dawned on me what Cody had said earlier about his parents knowing what my family was up to. I didn’t have any wine; I’m not allowed until I reach the age of consent, so that cannot be the reason for my sudden bout of word vomit.
“Hey, have you spoken to Cody’s mom? Have you? Have you?” I pointed at my mom and both grandmothers, respectively, to which they all nodded.
“And what pray tell did you talk about?”
“This and that, it’s not important right now.” Like heck, it isn’t Blaire.
“How much of my life did the four of you plan? Oh, forgive me, our lives, I should say.” I toasted mom with my glass of fizzy water.
“Oh dear, she’s being dramatic again. Annalisa, love, these things are bound to happen with family. We couldn’t very well accept the boy unless we knew everything about him now, could we? That just wouldn’t be fair.”
“What does that mean exactly? Why do you have to accept him, Grandma Astor? Why couldn’t it just be? There’s no difference between any of us, so there’s no need for talk of acceptance.”
“I think you misunderstood your grandmother, baby. She’s saying it would’ve been unfair to me had they not filled my parents in on the kind of life I would lead if we got married.”
“What language are you speaking right now?” Is it just me, or am I extremely brave with Cody by my side?
“Our kids, us, our parents, even our friends, are going to be under heavy surveillance; some of them might even need protection. They wanted to ensure my parents would accept you and all your baggage.” He’s pulling my leg if he believes that that’s what Hyacinth Bucket meant.
But didn’t my family all smile and agree that that’s exactly what it was? Now, don’t get me wrong. I don’t think anyone in my family is prejudiced against anything; I just think they’re so stuck back in some antiquated world that they miss certain social cues.
Like for instance, Grandma Davenport might say, ‘I’m feeling rather stuffy in this tiny room. Even my dog has more space to run around in.” But she doesn’t really mean to be insulting; she’s just saying exactly how she feels.
That’s one of the privileges of being filthy wealthy, you get to say and do as you please, and the world calls you eccentric. If any other member of the lower fifty percent should pull the same stunt, they’d do ten years in jail easily.
But my problem as the night drew on was Cody. It was obvious that he was on my side, but there were instances when I wasn’t too sure whose side he was on. For instance, mom would say something along the lines of, Ugh, Lisa, that blouse, why?” And my beloved would smile and say, “She looks so comfortable and relaxed, though.” And mom would agree and drop the subject.
On the one hand, yeah, but on the other, what does that mean comfortable and relaxed? Is he agreeing with her or me? And that conundrum is what led to the crux of the whole matter. When I found myself defending a stance I didn’t believe in, one which I can’t even remember right now, only because my family was against it. That’s when I knew that Cody was right. I’d programmed myself to oppose them no matter what because that was my only defense back then.
Now I’m sitting here wondering how many times I’d shot myself in the foot just because I didn’t want to be on the same side as them. Looking back, there were plenty of instances. That line of thought made me look at Cody as he sat beside me, talking to my family as if he’d known them all his life.