So it turned out he had hundreds of them left over.
And he still wouldn't spare my parents even two.
Just so they could step inside and get out of the sun.
I threw the hundreds of entry passes into the trash can by the door.
Waiting at the roadside pavilion, my parents scrambled to their feet.
The look in their eyes was full of hope:
"Well? Did our son-in-law sign it?"
I looked at them:
"Dad, Mom, we don't need the autographed photo anymore."
"That... your mom and I can let it go, it's just your brother, he..."
"I'll talk to him!"
I gritted my teeth.
I looked at my parents.
Just to get a chance to see their son-in-law.
They'd gone and bought two new shirts for the trip.
So they'd look a little more presentable.
The coarse fabric had rubbed their necks red.
My father's back was worse, the cloth clinging to it, a huge dark patch of sweat soaked through.
My eyes stung, and I bit down hard:
"Dad, Mom, let me take you home first so you can change and shower."
Back at the six-thousand-square-foot, three-story mansion.
I sent my parents to shower first.
Then I went up to the third floor, the one set aside for visiting guests.
One of the master bedrooms was already taken.
Brendan had saved the biggest, most comfortable room for Libby's parents.
Normally only directors or investors were put up here.
I paused for a moment in the doorway.
I clenched my fist.
Then I turned and picked a master bedroom farther from theirs and started getting it ready.
I was in the middle of spreading the comforter.
When Brendan walked in.
"You're letting your parents sleep here tonight?"
"Yes, they've got a train tomorrow. It's closer this way."
"They can't sleep here."
My hands froze on the bedding.
I turned:
"Why?"
"This is a guest room."
"My parents don't count as guests?"
I stared at him in disbelief.
"I... ahem! That's not what I meant."
"Are you worried my parents are going to freeload off you?"
I pulled out my own debit card:
"Don't worry, Brendan. Every penny my parents cost while they're staying here, I'll pay for it myself!"
"Enough, Ebony!"
Brendan pushed my hand back:
"Are you going to make me say it out loud?"
I was a little lost:
"Say what?"
Brendan clicked his tongue:
"They'll dirty the place."
I froze where I stood.
For a second I even thought I'd misheard.
"What did you say?
"My parents will dirty the place?"
I stepped closer to him:
"Then what about me, Brendan?
"I was born to those same parents. Should I move out too?"
"Is that what I said?"
Brendan snapped:
"I only told you to put your parents up somewhere else! Why do you always have to twist what people mean!"
"Did I really twist it?"
"Enough, Ebony Winfield."
Brendan pinched the bridge of his nose:
"You can't always be this relentless and this suspicious. If Libby had heard what I just said, she wouldn't have read into it the way you do.
"Sometimes you need to get out more, learn to be a little more forgiving.
"There are hotels near the house. Just find any one of them and put them up there."
"Brendan!"
I blocked his way: "My parents are only staying one night! They won't bother you!"
"Not even one night."
Brendan looked at me coldly:
"If you haven't taken them out of here within half an hour, I'll call the police."
My eyes went wide.
"I'll report them for trespassing."
I stood frozen there, unable to move a muscle.
He walked out.
