”
Of course, that ’ s all Angeline cares about, when I ’ ll marry and how much money his family will have. Oh, and she ’ ll be all about planning the wedding. Too bad she ’ d drive me into a mental institution. It ’ s not that I haven ’ t thought of marrying Evan. It ’ d be incredible. But, when I think about it, Richard and Angeline Armour aren ’ t even in attendance. It ’ s just Evan and me on a beach with a judge. I ’ m wearing a flowing dress, and he ’ s wearing whatever the hell he ’ d want to wear. He ’ d look perfect in anything. No family, no friends, just us making promises to one another. Not at all what Angeline has in mind. She just wants me to get my “ MRS ” degree like she did and marry a wealthy lawyer who will take care of me while I have his babies and clean his house. No thanks.
“ I don ’ t know yet if we ’ ll get married. ”
“ Oh that ’ s right, you ’ re not exactly the marrying kind, ” she says, a snide tone appearing in her words for the first time during this uncomfortable visit.
“ What does that mean? ” I ask incredulously.
“ Well, you do have a track record, Kate. You don ’ t share much with me, but I know you hop from boy to boy. I ’ ve paid attention over the years. You seem . . . what ’s the word? Restless. ”
“ Well, that ’ s part of my past. Evan is my future. ”
“ If that ’ s true, I ’ m happy for you, ” Angeline says, raising an eyebrow and pouring two cups of tea. She sits across from me and stirs her cup with her dainty teaspoon. “ What does Evan do for a living? ”
“ Right now, he works with me at the bar —”
A look of disappointment covers Angeline ’ s face. She doesn ’ t look a bit surprised, though. “ Kate, when are you going to learn that these are not the men you want to settle down with? Do you want to be married to a bartender? ” If she weren ’ t my mother, I ’ d want to punch her in the face for being such a snob. And for thinking that Evan is any thing less than wonderful.
“ Mother, with all due respect, you don ’ t know Evan. He ’ s a student like me, and he ’ s studying marketing. He ’ s even started interviewing with some big companies. He ’ s very driven and motivated. If we were to get married, he ’ d take very good care of me, of both of us .” Why on earth am I defending Evan to her? Why do I even care what Angeline thinks of me or my relationship with Evan? She doesn ’ t matter, Kate. But, she does. And I know it.
“ Well, that ’ s nice, darling. You know your father and I just want what ’ s best for you, ” she replies.
“ And for me to be happy, right? ”
“ Pardon me? ” she seems confused.
“ And you want me to be happy, don ’ t you? ”
“ Well, of course. What a silly thing to say. ”
“ Actually, it ’ s not silly, ” I say, taking a deep breath before continuing. “ Here ’ s the thing, Mother. Evan makes me happy, but so does photography. I ’ve been using my dark room a lot lately, and taking all sorts of photos. Evan gave me this amazing camera. I ’ m thinking I ’ d like to do this, you know, professionally .”
My heart is racing and anxiety is sweeping through me. I ’ m so afraid of where this conversation might lead. But, I have to persist. They are the only chance I have. Even though my parents don ’ t have a lot of money, I ’ m hoping they ’ ll have something to give me since I ’ ve paid for my own college education.
“ Oh, yes, I remember you used to love taking pictures on that camera your uncle gave you. And your father bought you that machine last year. You ’ ve always been so artsy, it ’ s hard to keep up with your hobbies, Kate. One year it ’ s painting, the next photography. I figured you ’ d moved on to something else by now .” God, how her words sting. She doesn ’ t take me seriously, not at
Of course, that ’ s all Angeline cares about, when I ’ ll marry and how much money his family will have. Oh, and she ’ ll be all about planning the wedding. Too bad she ’ d drive me into a mental institution. It ’ s not that I haven ’ t thought of marrying Evan. It ’ d be incredible. But, when I think about it, Richard and Angeline Armour aren ’ t even in attendance. It ’ s just Evan and me on a beach with a judge. I ’ m wearing a flowing dress, and he ’ s wearing whatever the hell he ’ d want to wear. He ’ d look perfect in anything. No family, no friends, just us making promises to one another. Not at all what Angeline has in mind. She just wants me to get my “ MRS ” degree like she did and marry a wealthy lawyer who will take care of me while I have his babies and clean his house. No thanks.
“ I don ’ t know yet if we ’ ll get married. ”
“ Oh that ’ s right, you ’ re not exactly the marrying kind, ” she says, a snide tone appearing in her words for the first time during this uncomfortable visit.
“ What does that mean? ” I ask incredulously.
“ Well, you do have a track record, Kate. You don ’ t share much with me, but I know you hop from boy to boy. I ’ ve paid attention over the years. You seem . . . what ’s the word? Restless. ”
“ Well, that ’ s part of my past. Evan is my future. ”
“ If that ’ s true, I ’ m happy for you, ” Angeline says, raising an eyebrow and pouring two cups of tea. She sits across from me and stirs her cup with her dainty teaspoon. “ What does Evan do for a living? ”
“ Right now, he works with me at the bar —”
A look of disappointment covers Angeline ’ s face. She doesn ’ t look a bit surprised, though. “ Kate, when are you going to learn that these are not the men you want to settle down with? Do you want to be married to a bartender? ” If she weren ’ t my mother, I ’ d want to punch her in the face for being such a snob. And for thinking that Evan is any thing less than wonderful.
“ Mother, with all due respect, you don ’ t know Evan. He ’ s a student like me, and he ’ s studying marketing. He ’ s even started interviewing with some big companies. He ’ s very driven and motivated. If we were to get married, he ’ d take very good care of me, of both of us .” Why on earth am I defending Evan to her? Why do I even care what Angeline thinks of me or my relationship with Evan? She doesn ’ t matter, Kate. But, she does. And I know it.
“ Well, that ’ s nice, darling. You know your father and I just want what ’ s best for you, ” she replies.
“ And for me to be happy, right? ”
“ Pardon me? ” she seems confused.
“ And you want me to be happy, don ’ t you? ”
“ Well, of course. What a silly thing to say. ”
“ Actually, it ’ s not silly, ” I say, taking a deep breath before continuing. “ Here ’ s the thing, Mother. Evan makes me happy, but so does photography. I ’ve been using my dark room a lot lately, and taking all sorts of photos. Evan gave me this amazing camera. I ’ m thinking I ’ d like to do this, you know, professionally .”
My heart is racing and anxiety is sweeping through me. I ’ m so afraid of where this conversation might lead. But, I have to persist. They are the only chance I have. Even though my parents don ’ t have a lot of money, I ’ m hoping they ’ ll have something to give me since I ’ ve paid for my own college education.
“ Oh, yes, I remember you used to love taking pictures on that camera your uncle gave you. And your father bought you that machine last year. You ’ ve always been so artsy, it ’ s hard to keep up with your hobbies, Kate. One year it ’ s painting, the next photography. I figured you ’ d moved on to something else by now .” God, how her words sting. She doesn ’ t take me seriously, not at
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