Page 42 of Dire Straights

“Thanks,” I said. “I appreciate it.”

She congratulated me on finishing second in my meet and told me she’d played on the volleyball team in college. I wanted to ask when she’d graduated because I never had gotten an answer to that other question, but I held myself back.

Eventually, Ren came down the steps and sat, and we started eating. His compliments toward her food were genuine and she seemed flattered. As the meal progressed, most of the tension dissipated and we all just chatted about general stuff like work and school.

We got roped into helping set up for the party, which I didn’t mind too much. It was just menial tasks like dusting and moving tables around and whatnot. But as we finished everything up and people started milling in, I couldn’t help but wonder what my dad had been so urgent about calling me here for. In my excitement for having a little mini vacation with Ren, I’d all but forgotten we were here for an actual reason.

I hoped it wasn’t anything traumatizing, like a cancer diagnosis or anything. As guests arrived, some of them being members of my family and friends of my dad’s that knew me, it was clear that they didn’t exactly know what the big news would be either.

So all I could do was stick close by to Ren and wait.

MADDOX

I INTRODUCED RENto various family members, just as a friend. Nothing felt too formal or awkward, since no one knew what he really was to me. Even I didn’t know what he really was to me. But the light conversation was okay, despite being asked how school was going 500 times.

After lots of talking and snacking on the fancy hors d'oeuvres Missy had spent all day preparing and arranging, my dad walked a few steps up onto the staircase so everyone in the room could see him.

“I’d like to make a toast,” he started, raising a flute of champagne in the air. “And an announcement,” he added.

So this was the thing I’d been dragged here for. The big announcement. It felt in poor taste to announce something depressing like a frightening medical diagnosis in a setting like this, so I doubted it was anything that terrible. Maybe he’d gotten some big promotion at work, or maybe he was selling the house. This was the house where he’d been married to my mom and raised me, after all. Maybe he wanted a fresh start.

“As most of you know, I’ve been seeing this lovely woman here,” he gestured to Missy, who looked shy and nervous to have all the room’s attention on her, but stepped up next to him anyway. “And we’ve been having the time of our lives. She’s a beautiful, intelligent, adventurous person and I am so incredibly honored to announce that we are ready to start the next chapter of our story.”

As he reached the end of that sentence, Missy let out a tiny squeal and held up her hand, showcasing a fat diamond she must have only just put on. The light from the ceiling reflected off it so it sparkled on her slim finger. “We’re getting married!”

Applause and cheers rang out from all sides, but I could only blink and stare. All the noise sounded muffled and in slow motion, like I was suddenly underwater.

“You’re getting remarried!?” I asked incredulously. “Toher!?” I’d only met her that day. And my siblings didn’t know her at all. This girl was supposed to be their stepmom? And my mom… Jesus fucking fuck. I was going to be hearing about this until the end of time. Didn’t they fight enough? Was my dad deliberately provoking her or something?

And then the underwater effect was gone and the party went deadly silent. I’d heard the expression about being able to hear a pin drop but it was the first time in my life I’d actually experienced it.

My dad’s smile faded from his face and his brow furrowed as he stared at me. “Yeah, Champ, I am. Do we need to go somewhere and talk?”

“No.” My answer was direct and resolute. There was so much I wanted to say. I wanted to call him an idiot for falling for the routine of some hot, big-boobed blonde, and for not even bothering to tell me or anyone else about her until they were practically married already. But the words wouldn’t come out, and everyone was staring at me. Jerking away from whoever had tried to put their hand on my arm, probably some concerned aunt or something, I rushed to the door, yanking it open and barreling out.

It was pitch black out, with only a few street lamps here and there, but my childhood suburban neighborhood was as familiar to me as the back of my own hand. I ran down several streets, whipping around the signs, on my way to the little forest walkingtrail that led to a small dog park. It was a quiet neighborhood, so not a soul was out after dark.

When my feet finally hit the dirt of the trail, I stopped to catch my breath. I immediately heard the echo of someone else’s sneakers slapping the pavement as they followed behind me, which I hadn’t noticed before. After a handful of seconds, Ren emerged from the darkness, panting heavily.

“Jesus, Maddy,” he complained, resting his hands on his knees. “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t do that anymore.”

“That was only for stuff involving us,” I reminded him, glad he couldn’t see my blush in the dark.

He stepped up closer to me, dropping his palm onto my shoulder. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head. “I… I don’t know. I feel stupid. I don’t know why I’m upset.”

“Okay,” he acknowledged gently. His tone was always like that. Never judging, never making me feel stupid. Even when I deserved it. “Is there somewhere we can sit and talk?”

“Yeah.” The street lamps didn’t extend to the little walking trail, and the moon wasn’t too bright that night, so I reached out to grasp his hand and lead him where I wanted to go.

We settled onto a bench in the little mini-park area, and I sighed heavily, putting my face in my hands. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to,” he said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder, nudging me to turn into him. I did, resting my head on him. It immediately occurred to me that what he was doing is what I would have done to cheer up some sad, crying girl. Great. So I was basically Ren’s girlfriend.

“It’s just… I mean, I don’t hate Missy or anything, you know? She seems fine, I guess.”

“But you don’t want your dad to get remarried?”

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