I thought of my parents' eager faces, and I swallowed every ounce of the hurt in silence.
The next morning, when they saw Delilah's gifts, a little smile broke across their faces.
"Delilah's so thoughtful, remembering us even when she's this busy with work."
Mom fastened the pearl necklace around her neck.
Dad carefully lifted from the suitcase the suit he'd been saving for the wedding, and solemnly knotted his tie.
"Aaron, we didn't embarrass you, did we?"
"No, of course not. You two are the best parents in the world."
Once they were ready, I brought my beaming parents to the private room Delilah had reserved.
I pushed the door open, only to find Philip and his dog seated brazenly at the head of the table.
"Mimi wouldn't budge once she settled in here. You don't mind, do you?"
Delilah stroked the dog's head, doting, not even lifting her eyes.
"Aaron's not petty. He wouldn't fight a mutt for a seat."
A shadow crossed my parents' eyes, but they held on to their smiles.
"It's fine, it's fine. We're all family. Sitting anywhere is the same."
Philip's gaze dropped to the necklace and tie on my parents, and he covered his mouth, laughing.
"You know, Mr. and Mrs. Pruitt, that necklace and tie actually suit you two pretty well."
"Yesterday we went to buy Mimi some clothes, and the clerk threw in these two accessories. My Mimi has no use for them."
"Never thought they'd look so fitting on you."
The smiles froze on my parents' faces.
Mom's hand jerked back from the necklace as if it had burned her.
Dad sat there, the hand at his side curling into a fist.
Looking at the gray at their temples, I couldn't take it anymore.
"Delilah, what's that supposed to mean?"
But Philip's eyes went red.
"Ms. Sullivan, I didn't mean anything by it. Why is Aaron angry again?"
Delilah's face soured.
"Aaron, can you please stop being so emotionally unstable all the time?"
"Philip was just complimenting your parents. Do you have to be this sensitive?"
The bitterness and rage inside me nearly drowned me.
"Delilah, you gave my parents the freebies that came with buying your dog clothes."
"The dog and the secretary take the seats of honor at dinner. Is it because you think we're not worthy?"
Delilah lifted her wrist, checked her watch, and frowned.
"I never said that. Can you stop blowing everything out of proportion?"
"I dropped my work to come out here, not to watch you throw a tantrum."
My chest was so tight I couldn't get a word out.
Mom stood up, took my hand, her voice pleading.
"Aaron, don't say any more."
"We're fine. Really, we're fine."
She turned her head and gave Delilah a smile.
"Delilah, thank you for taking the time to have dinner with your uncle and me."
"Aaron's spoiled because of us. Don't be upset with him."
Then she looked at Philip. "Young man, thank you for the gift. We like it very much."
With that she lowered her head, took off the necklace, and slipped it into her bag.
Then she sat down, picked up the teacup in front of her, her hand trembling without stop.
The tea spilled over, splashing onto her brand-new dress.
Dad kept his head down, saying nothing.
I fought back the tears with everything I had.
The server brought out the food, all of it seafood and sashimi.
One of my parents was allergic to seafood, the other had gout.
Seeing them not touch their chopsticks, Philip's eyes reddened with hurt.
"Why are Mr. and Mrs. Pruitt so picky? I went out of my way to book the finest restaurant in Northport. They're impossible to please."
Delilah said nothing, just bent her head over Philip's plate, peeling shrimp for him.
When I stepped out to the restroom, Delilah followed me out, her tone anything but kind.
"Aaron, what's the deal with you and your parents, deliberately trying to make Philip look bad?"
"He pulled a lot of strings to book a place like this. Can't you show a little sense?"
