3: 3
Marvin blinked, a trace of irritation crossing his face.
"The company keeps me busy all day, and I've got Hildy to look after. You think I've got the spare energy to remember what other people can't eat?"
"Besides, you know what you can't have. Couldn't you have said so ahead of time?"
Huh. So now I was other people.
I didn't want to say anything more. I got up and went to the guest room to pack.
Marvin walked in just as I clicked the suitcase shut.
He frowned, disappointed. "Kate, how long are you going to keep making a scene?"
"You walk out now, and Hildy's going to think you don't like her. You want her upset over that?"
I kept my voice flat. "If I stay here, she's the one who'll be uncomfortable."
I stepped around him and left.
As the door shut, Hilda's innocent voice drifted out behind me. "Marvin, is it because I'm here? Did I make Kate angry? Maybe I should just go..."
"Ignore her. That's just her, spoiled little princess with a temper, acting like the whole world owes her. Her parents raised her rotten. Let her go wherever she wants."
My parents were already asleep by then, and I didn't want to worry them, so I booked a room at a hotel.
The next day, I'd just woken up around noon when Marvin called.
"Your mother's sixtieth birthday party is tonight. I'm taking Hildy for her follow-up this afternoon, so let's just meet at the venue."
Marvin was always like this. Every time we fought over Hilda.
By the next day, he could act like nothing had happened.
He would never touch the root of the problem. It was like ladling water out of a pot to stop it boiling.
I was about to tell him he didn't need to come, but he got there first.
"Kate, that's enough. It's the old lady's birthday. Don't pick a time like this to upset your elders."
I thought about it and decided to wait until after Mom's birthday, then tell them everything slowly.
But I never expected him to be the last to arrive, and to bring Hilda with him.
My father asked, surprised, "Marvin, who's this young lady?"
Marvin answered without so much as a change in his expression. "She's a very important friend of mine. Her family's all passed away, and her health isn't good. I've been the one taking care of her."
"Today's the anniversary of her parents' death. She's not in a good place, and I was worried she wouldn't eat properly, so I brought her along for a warm meal."
My parents' faces went a little awkward at that.
Marvin sat Hilda down in the seat beside his own.
At every family dinner the arrangement was the same. My mother's left was my father, her right was me, and then Marvin.
Marvin knew this perfectly well. He still let me stand off to the side like an outsider.
The relatives all wore odd expressions.
My mother glanced at me, the smile on her face thinning, though she stayed gracious. "Marvin, caring for a friend is understandable, but that's Kate's seat. Have the waiter set another place for this young lady."
It was a family dinner, only relatives invited, so we'd only booked one large private room.
The relatives' seats had all been settled long ago, and it wouldn't do to ask any of them to give theirs up.
The waiter squeezed in a seat near the door.
Hilda started up nervously. "I'm sorry, I overstepped. Let me move..."
She said it, but her eyes had gone red, as if someone were pushing her out.
Marvin pressed her hand down. "It's fine. Sit tight."
He turned to me, and it came out like an order. "Kate, Hildy only knows me here. She won't feel safe unless she's next to me."
"Be reasonable. Take the seat by the door for today. Don't make people think the Fox daughter has no manners."
The second the words landed, my parents' faces darkened.
The way they looked at Hilda turned heavy with meaning too.
But with guests present, neither of them made a scene.
In the end, my mother pressed me into the head seat that had been hers, and took the seat by the door herself.
I felt sick with it, and ashamed.
It was her birthday party, and because of Marvin, she'd been turned into someone mooching a meal.
My father patted my hand and murmured close to my ear, "Your mom's holding the room together for you. Steady now."
Seeing the mood had soured, my third aunt stepped in to smooth things over. "Oh, we should give the birthday girl her gifts first."
Everyone took out the presents they'd prepared.
Expensive tonics, top-grade tea, designer cashmere wraps. My mother accepted each one, smiling and thanking them.
Soon only Marvin and I were left.
Everyone waited to see what the son-in-law would produce.
But he stood with his glass raised and said to my mother, "Mom, I'm sorry. I was busy all day taking Hildy for her follow-up and didn't have time to prepare a proper birthday gift."
"I'll make it up to you next time. Here's a toast to you. Happy birthday."
The moment he finished, my mother's expression froze.
The relatives exchanged glances.
Their mother-in-law's birthday, and the daughter and son-in-law hadn't even prepared a gift?
The blaming, mocking looks all around nearly burned through me.
But I knew I wasn't the only one being shamed.
It was my parents too.
I called Marvin out the door and looked up at him. "The custom jade pendant I spent two hundred thousand having made for my mother. Why is it hanging around Hilda's neck?"
