I will not see Amelia again today, but I look forward to having the family in my house this weekend.

Right now, everything scares me except the weekend family dinner.

****

I was right; hosting the family dinner is the big break I need from everything happening lately. The preparation process is crazy, and I am glad Amelia is here to help me put things in place. I wish we had hired a chef instead.

Henry and Troy help set up the table while they speaking about someone we couldn't disinvite. Henry looks sad and worn out, likely from Amelia's newfound attention from Jason.

He is quiet for most of the conversation with Troy and glances at the kitchen frequently. Amelia looks up from the cocktail she is making.

“Henry is looking over here?” I nudge Amelia. “I think he is looking at you.”

"I don't care," Amelia replies. "Staring at me won't fix this. It won't fix us."

I exhale. "What do you think they are talking about? Are they talking about you or about Nancy?"

Amelia stops staring at her cocktail and raises her head to the dining room. "I think they are talking about Nancy," she says. "Henry is not concentrating, which means he doesn't care about Troy's long rant, or he has heard him talk about it a million times before."

"You sound like you know Henry more than us," I tease her.

“Yeah,” Amelia says. “I was told I was going to marry him since I was a teenager, so that explains it all.”

“I didn’t mean to sound that way.” I hold her hand. “I just want the best for you.”

Amelia is about to speak when the doorbell rings. I look at her face. “Are you expecting someone else?”

“Yes, Mom,” I reply, “but she said she would be running late. I didn’t know she would be here early.”

"I will get the door," Troy says as he approaches the front door.

Amelia and I place some cocktails on the dining table, waiting to know who is at the door. I glance at my best friend as Mrs. Robinson walks into the house. She is not here alone; she is with Nancy.

Troy seems to be losing it with his mother until Henry steps in and the tension reduces, but they still join us for dinner.

"Mrs. Robinson." I smile as she sits at the table. Troy looks at me a few times. He looks sorry again. He looks as helpless as he always is around his mother.

"Camile," Mrs. Robinson says, "you don't mind that we are here, do you?"

I shake my head in response. “You are always welcome here, Mrs. Robinson.”

Nancy smiles at me, too. "We didn't get to introduce ourselves the other day," she says. "I am Nancy; you must be Camile. I have heard so much about you."

She offers to shake my hand. I hesitate, but I eventually do. She holds my hand a little longer until I pull it from her grip. I look at the faces at the table and see nothing but tension.

Amelia must have noticed as she breaks the awkward silence by digging into the big turkey, ensconced in the center. Everyone followed suit, as we have one of the most boring dinners ever.

“The food is great,” Nancy compliments.

“Thank you,” I retort.

Henry mentions Nancy's modeling career to make everyone chatter as we eat. "I am retired," Nancy says. "Of course, I own Greensome Modeling School, one of the best in Europe."

I have no doubt that she owns the best modeling school around, but I don't care who she is; I want her out of our lives - and quickly.

I see Amelia's face, struggling between adoring Nancy and hating her for my sake.

Troy sits expressionless, like he can't wait for all this to end.