Page 97 of Not the Plan

“Chief of staff, legislative director, same difference,” Isadora’s mother said. “And her job can’t bethatimportant. She’s wasting the prime years of her life on some silly nonsense she’ll just have to quit anyway once she grows up and does what she’s supposed to do.”

“And what’s that?” Karim asked.

She huffed again, stamping her foot. “Taking care of me, of course. I didn’t put in all those years of taking care of her not to get anything out of it. She owes me. She also owes me grandchildren.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Karim said.

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I don’t think I appreciate your—”

“I’m not finished,” he said. He had a shimmer of concern that he was being disrespectful; then he remembered Isadora’s tears. His hesitation evaporated. “She doesn’t owe you a damn thing. You’re the parent, she’s your daughter. If you weren’t so self-centered, you could see that Isadora is flourishing. She’s following her dreams. And she should continue following them, wherever they take her. It’s your job to support her in that. If you won’t, I sure will. Because I find her ambition inspiring and sexy as hell.”

He wanted to look Isadora in the eye, to check on her, but finishing the showdown was important.

“You should watch your language with me, young man,” her mother said. She stepped a few more feet down the hall. “You come over here, right this instant, Isadora Maris.” She snapped her fingers, pointing to the floor in front of her feet. She lookedat Karim. “Ifyouwill excuse us, I need to speak with my child in private.”

“I hope you’ll excuse me for pointing this out, Mrs. Maris, but I don’t see any child, anywhere,” he said.

“What did you say to me?”

“I said, ‘I don’t see any child.’ I see your daughter. Your adult daughter. But I don’t see a child.” He kept his face as pleasant as possible, but his jaw began to ache.

“Fine,” she said. “Isadora, come here.”

“No, Mother,” Isadora said. “Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of Karim.”

“How dare you talk to me like—”

“You’ll never be happy with me, Mother,” Isadora said, resigned.

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“It doesn’t matter what I do or say.” Isadora paused, tightening her grip on Karim’s hand. He squeezed back. “What I’m about to say isn’t a criticism, Mother. It’s a fact. I can’t be the daughter you seem to want me to be. And you can’t be the parent I need as an adult. This isn’t an argument, it’s just a fact. I’m tired of hurting all the time. Tired of every contact from you being a criticism that makes me doubt myself and my worth. We need a break. Don’t call me. If you do, I’m not going to answer.”

Her mother began to huff.

Isadora’s eyes met Karim’s. “I think we’re done here,” she said. “You and me?”

“You and me,” he repeated. Leaving her slack-jawed mother behind, Isadora led him back to the party.

On the way to the table, Isadora was polite and friendly with the family members who stopped her to talk. But he could feel her fatigue. He let go of her hand to run his down her back, and every muscle was tight. It was her family, and he didn’t want to push, but once they’d sat down, he had to ask.

“Beautiful?” She smiled at him, but it didn’t reach her defeated eyes. “Maybe we should go to the hotel?”

Her lips parted, about to speak. Instead, she nodded, and he was sure there was a glint of a tear in her eye. He took her hand.

“Are you okay, Isa?”

“I’m just exhausted. She always wears me out.” She looked around. “Everything’s over. No more speeches or anything. It’ll just be dancing from here on out. Let’s go.”

They said their goodbyes to the bride and groom, along with a few cousins and the uncle who’d shown interest in her job.

In the car, he didn’t let go of her hand. There were a thousand thoughts swirling through him, but it was hard to get past the anger at Isadora’s mother. That she would hurt her daughter, again and again, even in front of other people. She reminded him of Laila. Of course, he didn’t know Isadora’s mother, but the effect she had on Isadora felt all too familiar.

“I can’t believe you did that,” Isadora said, drawing his attention from the window.

“Did what?”

“You called her out. I don’t even notice anymore that she refuses to see me as an adult, but you saw it right away. And you called her on it.”

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