I half expected the rest of the family to run for shelter, but they stayed put, the twins smirking in a satisfied way, Dad looking nervous, Owen riveted, and Jane concerned.
I pulled the blanket up to my face and began, “It’s not…,” but Mom cut me off.
“Didn’t I tell you not to mess with that poor boy’s heart?”
“Whydo you care so much about his feelings?”
“He’s a gem. He’s a responsible boy who loves his parents, and it’s a wonder he’s still single, and I don’t want you ruining him for whatever worthy girl comes along for him.”
“Rachelisworthy,” Jane burst out. I gave her a tight smile of thanks.
“The reason your precious gem is still single is because he dates supermodels and tosses them aside when he’s bored of them.” I crossed my arms.
“Or because he puts all his hopes in the wrong basket.” That stung a bit; I didn’t know what I had done to make my mother insult my baskethood.
“Don’t worry, he won’t make that mistake again. At least not with me.”
“What did you say to him?”
“I…” I looked away, not wanting to see Mom’s or Jane’s reaction to my next words. “I told him he was wasting his time; I’m not interested.”
Mom stood abruptly, sending Jacuzzi water sloshing as she reached for her fuzzy bathrobe. She stood very close to me, dripping on me, as if she didn’t want the others to hear her.
“After everything your father and I have done for you, everything we’ve sacrificed so you would be successful, I don’t understand how—HOW—you can spit in the face of an opportunity like that.”
At this injustice, I jumped to my feet so we were face-to-face.
“Youjustsaid I wasn’t good enough for him, that you didn’t want me hurting him. Make up your mind!”
“If you can’t recognize good luck when it’s right in front ofyou—when a gorgeous and rich man tells you he loves you—then I just don’t know where we went wrong with you.”
“I wasn’t interested! I don’t like him!”
“At some point, you have to get over it! You can’t afford to be so picky, Rachel, you just—”
“Beth.” Dad spoke quietly, still resting his back against the jets in the tub. “That’s enough.”
“But she—”
“She doesn’t like the fellow. What more needs to be said?”
“But it’s—” Mom gestured toward the Butkuses’ cabin, then grasped her head in both hands as if she couldn’t articulate the enormity of the problem.
“Our little girl shouldn’t settle for anything—or anyone—less than her heart’s desire. None of them should.” Dad’s voice was low and even. Jane tossed a glowing look at Owen. Some sort of tidal wave surged in my chest, filling my throat with tears.
“But…” Mom trailed off, the wind taken out of her sails.
“Rachel will be successful enough on her own. She certainly doesn’t need anyone else’s success. In fact, she might not like being overshadowed.” Dad looked at me with a glimmer of laughter in his eyes.
I wrapped the blanket tighter around me, suddenly wishing everyone would go inside; I wasn’t sure how much longer I could swallow back these tears.
“Bedtime.” Jane climbed out of the hot tub and gestured for the others to follow her. She always knows what I need.
I waited a few minutes before heading inside myself. The fire was on in the living room. I settled in front of it, trying to make sense of the whirl of thoughts and feelings inside me. The flooroverhead creaked with footsteps as everyone made their way to bed.
“Hey.” Jane stood in the dark stairwell.
“Hi.” I patted the cushion on the floor beside me. She sat down, and I offered her half of the blanket.
