Chapter 2

By then, Lauren seemed to realize how ugly the whole thing looked.

Her face went red.

"That's not what I meant. Mom, Dad, please don't misunderstand."

My father lifted a hand.

"You two are adults. Work it out yourselves. Just stop turning every disagreement into a family meeting with both sets of parents in it."

Patricia nodded quickly.

"Exactly. Everyone should calm down and talk."

Lauren pursed her lips. I said nothing.

Before my parents left, Dad gave my shoulder a quiet pat and said nothing at all.

I understood him. Lauren had come home. There was no point dragging it out.

The second everyone else was gone, though, she turned on me.

"Wow, Daniel. You called your parents over so all three of you could put me on trial?"

I looked at her.

"You're no better. You walked through that door and started tearing into me."

She stopped short.

I don't think it had ever occurred to her that I might answer back.

She glared at me, then gave me the silent treatment.

In the past, I'd have bought flowers or jewelry or something else until she decided the fight was over.

This time I was exhausted. I didn't want to chase her.

For the next three days, work was brutal. I came home so tired I could barely keep my eyes open.

On the fourth day, the project finally wrapped and I could breathe.

That was when Gary called and invited us over for dinner that weekend.

I said yes.

Lauren packed the usual bags of gifts to take to her parents' place.

I didn't say anything. I also didn't pay for them.

Strangely, she didn't complain.

I found out why soon enough.

Kyle was there.

The second he saw me, his face collapsed into misery.

"Daniel, you have to help me this time."

"What happened?"

"Brittany's pregnant. We're getting married."

I smiled.

"Congratulations. That's good news."

Kyle was twenty-seven. Getting married was hardly shocking.

He sighed dramatically.

"Good news would be having the money for it."

Then he looked straight at me.

I pretended not to catch it.

"Yeah. Everything costs a fortune these days."

Under the table, Lauren stepped hard on my foot. I kept eating.

Finally she couldn't take it anymore.

"Don't worry, Kyle. You're my only brother. Of course I'll help you."

Then she turned to me with a smile.

"Right, honey?"

I smiled back.

"A wedding is a big deal. Your parents should absolutely support him.

"But as his sister and brother-in-law, we shouldn't take over their responsibility. Right, Patricia? Gary?"

I handed the problem straight back across the table.

Both of them went quiet.

Lauren frowned.

"How much do you think my parents have? Kyle needs a ring, a wedding, a place to live, and enough money to actually start a life.

"If his sister and brother-in-law don't help, how is he supposed to get married at all?"

I laughed softly.

"If you want to help him, go ahead.

"I support this household and still get criticized over one bottle of milk. A decision this big is way above my pay grade.

"What if I spend the wrong amount and get blamed for it afterward?

"You're the one who decides everything around here anyway, aren't you?"

Lauren had no answer for that.

She turned back to Kyle.

"Don't worry. I promise you'll have a wedding everyone remembers."

The whole Shaw family brightened. I sat there and said nothing.

Later in the meal, Gary drank a little too much and started rambling at me.

Then Patricia joined in.

"You know, Lauren had plenty of men chasing her before she married you.

"Your family wasn't even the best offer on the table. She picked you anyway. If she'd married one of those rich boys, she wouldn't have had to - "

"Mom!"

Lauren grabbed her arm.

"You've had too much."

Patricia laughed it off and stopped.

I didn't answer. I just played with Ethan.