“Hey babe!” I shout over my shoulder. I head to the sink to empty out the bucket and begin rinsing it out. “Where did you want to go this afternoon? You know you didn’t really give me any details on what you wanted to do. I know the apple farm is starting their harvest… maybe we can go over there and collect apples and I’ll make apple crisp with fresh apples. I know it’s your fav— ”
But when I turn around, he isn’t there. I could have sworn I heard him walk this way, but he must have gone to the bedroom. I shrug and begin to put all the food back in the fridge. It takes me a bit longer toget everything put away but I get it done, dancing while I do it. I’m so into the music I must have missed Dalton coming back into the room. I’m admiring my organizational skills in my fridge, when I hear a thud behind me, followed by my name.
“Harper.”
My back straightens and I stop what I’m doing. Dalton doesn’t use my full name. Like ever.
Unless he’s mad.
I turn and my eyes connect with soulless orbs. There is no trace of any emotion coming from his demeanor. It's like he's shut every emotion off, detaching himself completely. Usually, I can anticipate this, but this moment has taken me by surprise. Warning bells begin to ring in my head. “What’s…uh… Is everything okay?”
This sardonic chuckle escapes from his lips before he shakes his head.
“No, everything is notokay,Harper.”
It’s then that I notice the bag by the front door. My heart rate instantly begins to race and my throat begins to tighten. What inhellis going on?!
“What do you mean? Did something with your work project go wrong?” My brain is spinning as I’m trying to figure out where this coldness is coming from. Maybe he’s just tired from all the overtime he’s put in lately and wants to get out of town for the night? Maybe this is just my brain playing tricks on me and he’s surprising me with a night away.
He mumbles something, but it sounds awfully close toJesus Christ. Looking down at his feet, he shakes his head before he runs his hand through his hair and says, “I can’t do this anymore, Harper. I’m not happy. I’m done.”
I feel like I’ve been slapped across the face as the air whooshes out of my lungs. Am I hallucinating? Because surely I didn’t hear what I think I heard. My mouth is agape before I close it and open it again to try and say something. Anything.
But I think my brain is short circuiting.
“I... uh… What?” I finally get out.
“You can’t really be that dense, Harper. I haven’t been hiding my unhappiness here.”
Okay,ouch.
“I- I mean I noticed there was some tension but I didn’t think you wereunhappy...” I say quietly. I begin to fidget with my hands, something I do often when I’m overwhelmed and holding in my emotions. Then I get the telltale feeling of tears stinging the back of my eyes. I look up and quickly blink them away.
“I haven’t been happy formonths!” He booms. I flinch back at the volume of his confession. “I thought it was just a little moment, that things were too … I don’t know, comfortable or something.” He roughly runs his hand through his hair, his shoulders stiff. If we were in a cartoon you could see the frustration pluming off of him. “But I can’t do this anymore. Last night kind of solidified it for me.”
I stand there, my mouth agape in shock. It takes my brain a minute to register something Dalton said. “… last night solidified it?”
“Yes!” His tone becomes more agitated with each word. “The way you always poke fun at how my parents are. How I was raised. Like they’re some stuck up snobs who would never give anyone below them the time of day!” He starts to pace, and I just stand there. I mean sure, I poke fun. But come on, his parentsarea little stuck up… okay, at least his mom is. “And then there’s whatever is going on between you and my mom.”Aaand there it is.“I don’t understand why you two can’t just get along. She is just looking out for me.”
A laugh bursts out of my mouth. “You have got to be kidding me. Why can’t we just get along? Where do you want me to start?” I scoff, waiving a hand through the air. “The backhanded compliments I get about my body? The constant criticism she gives me, or how about the fact that half the time I don’t know whether she sees me as a human being or another person to do her bidding?” I run my fingers through my hair in frustration. “We’ve been together for eight years. Since we were sixteen, she hasneverliked me. Not ever. I’ve taken years of her negativity and poor treatment of me. I’ve acted like it doesn’t affect me, it does Dalton.It doesn’t just slide off my back. It cracks my armor, and she makes me feel like I’m never going to be good enough for you!”
I begin to think about the dinner last night with his parents. Just after they arrived, she threw her coat at me as she walked past, barely giving me a hello before heading into the kitchen.
Dalton comes through the patio door with the steaks and chicken on a platter. His smile widens as he sees his parents. “Mom, Dad, hey! Just give me a second to put this meat down, and I’ll grab you both a drink.” He makes his way over to our farmhouse style dining table and places the cooked meat in the center of the set table.
“Oh, don’t be silly, my sweet boy. Harper can get us drinks. I mean, she isn’t doing anything,” Judith croons to her son, while side eyeing me with disdain. Jesus Christ this woman gets on my nerves. Forcing a smile on my face I say, “Of course! A red wine for you, Judith? And bourbon for Keith, right?” I turn toward the bar cart, grabbing the wine glass and filling it with red before she answers. I found this cute little antique shop last month, and when I saw the bar cart, I couldn’t say no. It was the perfect accent to our home.
“Oh Harper… you can’t have red wine with chicken breast. That’s a dreadful pairing… I’ll take a Chardonnay... you do have white wine, don’t you?”
My movements falter as I pour Keith’s bourbon. My hand moves just enough to tap the full glass of red wine. With my hands full, I can’t do anything more but watch it shatter, liquid splashing across the floor. “Oh shit,” I mutter as I quickly grab the paper towels and begin cleaning the red wine that is now everywhere on the kitchen floor. I manage to clean up all the liquid and all that’s left is glass. I should probably give it a quick mop with the Swiffer after using the broom, just to catch any small pieces and we're good. As I walk through the kitchen, I feel the heat on my face creeping up my neck, and onto my face. Of course my clumsy ass would manage to make a huge mess at dinner with Dalton’s parents. I grab the broom and the Swiffer and head back into the kitchen.
“I am so sorry, I’m such a klutz, just give me two seconds and it’ll all be cleaned up and I’ll get you your Chardonnay,” I say with as much bravado as I can muster.
Judith responds with a tsk noise. She might be the only person who would scold me over a flipping accident. “Don’t worry about it. Dalton has finished what you couldn’t complete.”
I’m brought back to the present as I notice my cheeks are damp. I quickly use the back of my hand to wipe away the tears that have so rudely escaped, while scolding myself for letting the tears fall.
“That right there.” His fingers point directly at me in accusation, “What you just said. That is one of the reasons I’m unhappy. I just wish you guys could get along. How can I be with someone who can’t get along with my family? They’re my family, Harper. They aren’t perfect, but they love me and want to see me happy.” He sighs, walking toward me placing one hand on my cheek. I back away utterly shocked. I don’t want him to touch me right now. How can he touch me so affectionately while simultaneously smashing my heart to pieces with a sledgehammer? “I really wanted this to work. I’ve been trying, but I just can’t do it anymore.”
