“A bonus for joining the company,” I replied, reciting the lie I had practiced ahead of time. “As long as I stay more than a few months, I receive an up-front bonus.”
Dad rolled forward to accept champagne in a regular glass cup. “I’ve never heard of signing bonuses, except in high-demand jobs.”
“Well, this job has one,” I said bluntly. “And it’s going to be big. Maybe even big enough to afford the down payment on a house.”
“Oh, a house!” Mom exclaimed wistfully. “You need to get out of that slum you live in now. Maybe one of those cute little houses in the neighborhood south of downtown. You don’t need much space, since it’s just you. If you had a boyfriend…”
I rolled my eyes and handed her a cup of champagne. “I’m actually looking at three-bedroom homes. One bedroom for me, one for guests… and one for you and Dad.”
Mom dropped the glass, which shattered on the floor and sent bubbly liquid in all directions. She cursed and went to her knees to clean it up with a rag.
“I can’t afford to be breaking glasses like this,” she muttered.
Dad rolled closer to me with a shocked look on his face. “Ginny. You can’t do this…”
“Mom, I’ll buy you new glasses,” I said. “And yes Dad, I can do this. You mentioned how I need to get out of the slum I live in? The same goes for you two. You’ve lived here four years and how many times have you had break-ins?”
“A father should take care of his daughter,” he said softly. “Not the other way around.”
“Afamilyshould take care of each other,” I replied emphatically. “You made sacrifices for me when I was younger. Now I’m repaying the favor. At least, I will be when I find the right place.”
“A girl should live on her own,” Mom insisted.
I pointed. “The beef is burning.”
She grabbed the spatula and began stirring it in the pan. “It’s tough to find a boyfriend when you’re living with your parents.”
“I’m not living with my parents,” I clarified. “Youwill be living withme.”
“Either way, we will be clam-jamming you.”
Her comment almost made me dropmyglass. “MOM, EW, GROSS. Where did you even learn that phrase?”
“Your mother has been watchingLove Island,” Dad explained, as if it were a great burden on him.
I groaned. “That kind of TV will rot your brain.”
“Sometimes a woman just wants to watch trash!” She grinned. “I like to watch the pretty boys walk around shirtless. Is that so wrong?”
It’s not wrong, I thought.If only you knew how I was really earning that down payment.
“Enough bickering,” Dad insisted. “Honey, grab another glass. We need to celebrate. To Virginia and her new job.” He raised it high.
“And to finding a boyfriend!” Mom added. “Now that you work downtown you can find a nice businessman to woo…”
“Mom!”
“What about the man whose hand you cut open?” she insisted. “He must really like you if he hired you after that…”
“Or she was the best candidate for the job,” Dad countered.
“Exactly!”
“Was he cute, at least?” Mom asked. She glanced over her shoulder and then started laughing. “You’re blushing!”
“What? I am not,” I replied.
“He must beverycute. You never blush.”