Eloise

“I can’t believe this. I got them a framed picture and a box of chocolates, and you went and gave them this?” I throw up my hands at the garden fountain. “I mean, it’s beautiful but it must’ve been super expensive. How much did it cost?”

“One pair of panties, red lace, worn out dancing on Friday night,” Sophie says, and cackles.

I close my eyes and shake my head. My sister is nuts.

“Do you measure all your costs in panties?”

“Pretty much. But I’m going to finish med school with barely any debt so I’m not complaining.”

“Thank God for the perverts of the world.”

“I’m tapping the Japanese market now. It’s a gold mine.”

“Don’t Mom and Dad wonder where you get the money from?”

“I put your name on the garden fountain, and told them you paid for most of it.”

“You could’ve told me before I went and bought the picture frame.”

“Dinner,” my dad calls from the back door.

“Coming,” I say.

Sophie grabs my hand, and says, “Remember, I’ve got your back in there.”

I look at her and smile. She’s got my back everywhere, she always has. I only wish Gabe had come for dinner. I practically begged him last night but he wouldn’t even consider the idea. It was an outright no, end of story whenever I asked.

“Wow, you even put the little white hats on the bones. Very fancy,” I say as we sit at the table.

My mother has gone all out this year, with a rack of lamb formed into a crown placed on a silver platter at the center of the table.

“Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad,” Sophie says.

We all clink glasses and chat as we start eating. When we’re nearly finished our meal, just as I’m about to take a bite of steamed green beans, Sophie clears her throat and kicks me under the table.

“Eloise has some big news.”

“Oh?” my father and mother say in unison.

My cheeks start to flush, and I say, “I don’t know if it’s big news.”

“Eloise has a boyfriend,” Sophie blurts. My cheeks burn.

Mom looks at me sideways, her eyes wide and her smile is uncontainable. I brace for whatever’s coming next.

“What’s he like?” my mom asks.

I clear my throat, and say, “Actually, we went to school together.”

“Really? Anyone we know?”

“Gabe Irwin. I doubt you remember him. He moved away in seventh grade.”

My mother and father look at each other in a long, steady gaze. My mom’s fork slips out of her hand.

“You should see him now,” Sophie says. “He’s a tattoo artist and is covered in ink. And he’s smoking hot. Marcy saw him at the medical practice and practically died.”

Dad looks back across the table at me, and asks, “Is he a patient at our practice?”

“Yes, but I was seeing him before he came for physiotherapy.”

I expect my parents to complain about my boyfriend also being my patient, but no comment comes.

“I’m so pleased for you, sweetie. I hope you’re really happy together. Sophie makes him sound like a nice boy.”

“He’s nice and wonderful.”

“You’re obviously smitten with him, your face is beaming. I haven’t seen you this animated when talking about a man ever,” my dad says.

I feel like I’m in bizarro land. My parents are both aware of Marcy’s reaction when Gabe first came to the practice. Sophie’s told them he’s covered in tattoos, and I know for a fact neither of my parents likes visible tattoos.

I’d expected them to freak out when they learned their daughter was dating someone like Gabe. But they’re both being so supportive.

Why did I doubt them? They always support me. I’m glad Marcy pushed me into telling them about Gabe. Not that I’m about to tell them everything Marcy wants me to tell them.

“I really wanted him to come to dinner tonight, but I wasn’t sure it was a good idea because it’s your anniversary. But next week, for sure, I’ll bring him so you can meet him.”

“Oh, I don’t know. You don’t need to drag the poor man to our house. It would probably bore him,” my dad says.

“Not at all. He loves pool, you could play him,” I say to my dad.

“Oh sweetie, don’t bring him around here, that’s boring. You two should be out having fun. Go to dinner and a movie or dancing,” my mother says.

“We don’t get a lot out of free time together. He works weekends, and takes Wednesdays and Thursdays off. I was hoping you’d let me change my days to match his.”

“That’s a great idea,” my father says. “Having you work Saturdays and Sundays is better for our patients anyway.”

“Wow, that’s amazing. Thank you!”

“Anything to help. Now you can do all sorts of fun things together,” my mother says.

“They’re coming here for dinner next weekend, it’s already arranged,” Sophie says.

“It is?” my father says.

“Yes, it is,” Sophie says with such authority that none of us challenge her.

My parents each take a mouthful of food, and I scoop some mashed potatoes into my mouth and let them dissolve on my tongue. We finish our plates in silence, but I can’t help being relieved and excited at the way things have turned out.

“Are you seeing him tomorrow?” my mother asks.

I set my fork down, and say, “He has a lake house, and he took tomorrow off so he can take me tonight. I’m going to his place, and we’re leaving as soon as I finish here.”

“You didn’t need to come tonight. You should’ve left earlier since it’s such a beautiful day to be on the lake,” my mom says.

“But it’s your anniversary.”

“We’ve finished the lamb now. What are you waiting for? Get going!” My mother says.

I jump up from my seat, sending my napkin to the floor. My mother and father look at me with tight-lipped smiles. Sophie grins widely and winks.

“Love you guys,” I say, and head out the door.

My body is buzzing. I don’t know why, but I hadn’t expected my parents to react the way they did. Just talking about Gabe has filled me with excitement.

As I back my car out of the driveway, I realize how badly I need to feel his arms around me right this second.