Page 126 of Someone Like You

‘Two, Roland?’ asks Mom from the stove where she’s working a loaded griddle.

‘There are five of us. That’s only two glasses each,’ he replies, and Mom shrugs.

When the wine is poured and Mom flips the last sandwich onto the platter, we pull our stools up to the kitchen counter.

On the whole, it’s been a satisfying and productive day.

IfI completely ignore that I ran into my ex today, getting a painful glimpse into a life I once thought would be mine.

30

GABY

All five of us oversleep.

Ofcoursewe do. Dad opened a third bottle of wine, then after scoffing at least two sandwiches each, we moved to the living room for brandy, Christmas cookies, and several rowdy rounds of Jenga. Carb overload + alcohol + rigorous smack talk + exhaustion = none of us getting out of bed before 8.30a.m.

And we’re due at Aunt Christine and Uncle Marv’s at 10a.m.

That scene inHome Alonethe morning the family is flying to Paris – that hasnothingon the Rivera household this morning. Somehow, amid panicked cries of ‘Have you seen my [insert object here]?’ and ‘I know we put that wedding present somewhere!’ and ‘Argh! I forgot my shapewear in San Francisco!’ we have all showered and are in various stages of getting ready.

While Issy and I put on our makeup – i.e. fight for space in front of the bathroom mirror like we did when we were teenagers – Raff is in the kitchen, hurriedly frosting the cake, and Dad is hunting for doweling in the garage, cursing himself for not doing it last night. I’m pretty sure I heard his bandsaw a few minutes ago.

Mom pokes her head into the bathroom. ‘Hi, girls. Can one of you zip me up, please?’

‘You look pretty, Mom,’ I say, pausing my mascara application while Issy zips her up.

‘Thanks, hun. You girls do as well.’

‘Well, Gaby does. I look fat,’ says Issy, scowling at herself in the mirror.

‘Isabel Lee Rivera,’ says Mom, noticeably leaving off Issy’s married name, ‘you are absolutely beautiful and I will not have you talking about yourself like that.’

Issy’s lips disappear between her teeth, but she doesn’t argue. While I’ve taken after Mom and Aunt Christine, Issy is a Rivera woman through and through. I’ve always envied her curvy hips and big boobs, but the grass is always greener, right?

Mom squeezes in between me and Issy, who’s dusting on some setting powder.

‘Can I borrow some lipstick?’ she asks. ‘Nothing too dark.’

Issy and I both freeze, our eyes meeting in the mirror. Our mom is an attractive woman, but she almost never wears lipstick – even for special occasions. I’ve seen her in blush a few times, maybe mascara, but never with colour on her lips.

‘Do you want me to do your makeup, Mom?’ asks Issy, turning to her. ‘I’m nearly finished with mine.’

Mom steps back and waves her hand dismissively. ‘Oh, never mind. It’s silly. And we don’t really have time, anyway.’

‘Sure, we do, Mom – it won’t take long. Besides, we can be a little late. The wedding doesn’t start till two.’

‘Yes, but I promised Chrissy we’d be there to help set up and?—’

‘Mom,’ says Issy, taking her gently by the shoulders. ‘Sit.’

‘You want me to sit on thetoilet?’ she asks, her eyes wide with horror.

‘On thelid, Mom,’ I say. ‘Geez.’

Mom starts laughing, clearly pleased with herself that she got me.

‘Oh –hilarious,’ I say dryly.

---