Release March 1, 2013
"Another mimosa, miss?" the waiter asked,
distracting me from the piece of art in the corner.
"No, I'm fine. Thank you," I replied, shifting my
attention back to the modern abstract painting. I hated the country club, but I
had to admit the decorator had great taste.
"Are you having a good time?"
I turned to face Ryan, my boyfriend of eight months. I
smiled weakly at him. I was not having a good time, but I would never admit
it. This was my part. To play the happy, successful, put-together
daughter who doted on her parents. Being
here with our families made me miss the peace of my college dorm. Only four
more hours before we had to leave to head back to NYU. Still, it seemed four
hours too long.
"Yes, the food is delicious," I said, pulling my
muffin apart and popping a piece in my mouth.
Honestly, I had barely touched anything.
My mother watched what I put in my mouth and I would rather go hungry
than listen to her rattle off how many calories I ate. She wouldn’t do it here, of course.
"So, Alexandra, have you decided which field you're
going to practice medicine in?" Thomas, Ryan's father, asked.
I cleared my throat and glanced around the table, realizing
all eyes were on me. "I'm thinking about pediatrics, but I'm still
undecided," I finally replied. The truth was that I haven't been thinking
about it at all. I noticed my father's eyes were locked on me. This was a rare
occurrence, but also one that terrified me. His attention rarely came with good
intentions.
"As in surgery?" my father asked, his eyes were
still glued on mine.
I looked down to calm my racing nerves. "No, just
general pediatrics. I don't think surgery is for me." Medicine in general
wasn't for me.
My eyes met his again and I said a silent prayer that we
were in the club and this conversation wouldn’t continue. He gave me a look
that said it wasn't over, but returned his attention to his prime rib. I took a
deep breath as I began to move the fruit around on my plate.
Ryan placed his hand on my thigh. "Are you all right? You
seem tense."
"I'm fine," I said, leaning in to kiss his cheek.
"Aren't they adorable Catherine?" Jillian, Ryan's
mom, beamed from across the table, leaning in on her elbows.
I glanced over at my mother who sat with her signature fake
smile. She looked happy and had a polite demeanor whenever we were around her
friends. "Yes, they are. How can they not be though? Look at us," my
mother said, bringing her third glass of wine to her perfect red lips.
"I see some planning in our future," Jillian
smiled. I almost choked on a piece of pineapple. I could imagine all the time
the two of them have spent discussing our future. They would like nothing more
than for the two of us to make little country club babies.
"Gwen, how are the wedding plans coming along?" I
asked to bring the attention away from myself.
"Great! We have the menu all worked out and the tuxes
have been ordered. Just a few little things left and then we are all set,"
my sister said, smiling up at her fiancé. They looked perfect together, but
that was where the connection ended for me. So many times, I'd wanted to ask
her if this was what she truly wanted, because I think the line between her
wants and my parent’s wants had been blurred.
"When will the bridesmaid dresses be in?" I asked.
"Next week. I'll give you a call when it comes in and
you can pick it up at Kleinfeld."
"I hope it still fits with all the bread you've been
eating over break," my mother sneered from across the table. I waited for
someone at the table to correct her, to tell her she was being ridiculous, but
no one said a word.
I needed fresh air. I needed to get out of her for a few
minutes to regain my equilibrium. "Ryan, do you want to go take a walk outside
for a few minutes?"
"Sure, let me go grab our coats," he said, walking
away from the table. Gwen grabbed my hand. "Alex, don't worry. You'll look
gorgeous in your dress," she smiled. I squeezed her hand and walked toward
the lobby to meet Ryan.
Ryan helped me with my coat and we stepped outside to take
in the cool January air. It was unbearably cold this time of year, but I would
rather be anywhere but at that table. Our families had come to the Hamptons for
winter break and it had been the longest three weeks of my life. Okay, maybe
not the longest, but now that I knew what it was like to be on my own after
finishing one semester of college, this was torture. I was constantly trapped
under a microscope and couldn't get out from under it. It wasn't like I ever
really tried. This was my life; I was used to it and up until recently, I
thought I was happy with it.
"Do you want to go sit in the car? I'm freezing,"
Ryan asked, entwining his fingers with mine.
I nodded as we walked toward his shiny black BMW. Being
alone with him has been awkward during these last few weeks. Things would be so
much easier if we had just remained friends. He opened the door for me before
moving to the driver’s side. He cranked
up the heat, rubbing his hands together as we sat in silence.
"I can't believe classes start again in two days,"
he said, breaking the silence.
"I know. I'm ready to get back in a routine though.
You?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I won't get to see you
again until Gwen's wedding." He grabbed my hand and rubbed his lips over
my knuckles. He was a sweet guy, but maybe not the one for me. I had gone back
and forth, trying to decide what I should do about us. I needed to make a
decision soon.
"I can't believe she is getting married in two months.
It seems like just yesterday we were riding our bikes through the
neighborhood." I smiled at the memory. Things were simple back then.
"Yeah. Do you remember when we were racing and you fell
and tore your new tights?"
I laughed. "Yeah, we buried them in your sand box and
tried to convince my mother that I hadn't worn any that day."
"That didn't work though, did it?" he asked. I
stopped laughing as I remembered how my mother cornered me until I told her the
truth. She always picked up on my lies. Always. I didn't get to ride my bike
the rest of that summer as a punishment.
"No, it didn't," I whispered. Ryan and I created
an album of memories between us. Some were good and some were bad, but we
experienced it all together. He knew the parts of me I let him see well. He
just didn't hold the key to everything.
He cupped my face in his hands, bringing my eyes to his. I
didn't see electric sparks. I didn't see rainbows. I saw my best friend. As he
leaned in to kiss me, I closed my eyes and tried to pretend that this was where
I wanted to be. That this was what I wanted to be doing, but still no
electricity. He pulled away. "I love you, Alexandra."
"I love you, too," I whispered. And I did. I loved
him, but I needed to consider what that meant to me. Was he my forever?
"We should probably get back inside before someone
comes looking for us," Ryan said, turning the car off.
I followed him inside, telling myself only three hours and
six minutes before I could leave again. Before I could return to my new normal.
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