Page 65 of Love & Other Disasters

Twenty-Three

“But, I don’t know what to do,” Violet said into the phone. Her mom had spent the last half hour complaining about Jill’s unwillingness to come to Sunday dinner. “I did nothing wrong.”

“You need to extend an olive branch,” she said. “This has gone on long enough.”

“Why is this on me? This entire thing is her fault.” Violet paced around her living room.

“Maybe just overlook that. She’s your sister, after all.”

“I’ve put up with everything she’s put me through for years. She thrives on drama, and I’m not playing. If she wants me, she knows where to find me.”

“Oh, Violet, she’s going through such a hard time, breaking up with Geoff and all. You could show a little compassion. She’s not strong like you or used to being alone.”

“Are you kidding me right now?” Violet’s voice was louder than she meant.

“Well you flaunting around your successful and handsome boyfriend isn’t easy for her.”

“Because I’m the one that’s supposed to be alone and pitied by the two of you.”

“What on earth are you going on about?”

“I heard you two that day in the kitchen talking about me.”

“Oh… well, it’s not polite to eavesdrop. You can’t be angry at what you hear when it’s not meant for your ears.”

“I’m not supposed to know what you two really think of me?”

“No, darling. Jill needs to feel superior to boost her self-esteem. She’s always compared herself to you, and thinks she comes up short.”

Violet’s mouth hung open. “What am I supposed to say to that?”

“Be a dear, and apologize to your sister and make things better.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” her voice came out shrill.

“It doesn’t matter. She’s upset, and you need to fix it.”

This had to stop. It wasn’t her job to fix Jill. Violet wasn’t okay with the status quo of her family.

“Okay, I’ll fix it.”

“Thank you. Finally, I’ve talked some sense into you. When did you become so stubborn? It’s not like you.”

“You tell Jill that I won’t be at Sunday dinner from now on.” Violet didn’t give her mother a chance to respond before she hit the end call button, tossing the phone to one side of the couch. She collapsed on the other, the blood pounded in her ears.

The phone on the end of the sofa buzzed alerting her to a call, but she ignored it. Too many emotions whirled through her. How did she allow this to happen? But then again, this shouldn’t surprise her after years of appeasing everyone but herself. Violet had taught them all that she’d be the one to make the compromise and fall into line for the sake of peace. The tears fell, and she allowed them to flow. Maybe she could weep out all of her disappointment and heartache.

A car pulled into the gravel lot in front of the house. She wiped under her eyes and took a deep breath, crossing to meet J.P. It was the first cool snap of the autumn and she shivered against the stark contrast from the day. He’d backed his mustang into the drive and pulled grocery bags and his duffel from the trunk.

“What’s with the groceries?” she asked.

“I’m cooking dinner,” he replied, as he passed her into the house. She held the door open. J.P. dropped his duffel at the side of the couch and kept walking.

“You’re cooking dinner?” she asked. Closing the door, she followed him to the kitchen stopping at the doorway.

“You don’t think I can cook?”

“I think ordering out is much easier.” She leaned on the doorframe watching him remove ingredients from the bag: a small carton of eggs, a bundle of broccoli, and breadcrumbs.

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