An Unforeseen Turn of Events

Chapter Twenty-Three

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, Christine put mashed potatoes and green beans on the table. The thought about the graphs she knew she was going to see on her microeconomics final made her so jittery she was afraid of dropping the side dishes.

Her mother Fran brought out the piping hot meatloaf.

"Christine, you made the potatoes and beans differently. What did you put in them?"

"Oh, I added garlic, parsley, and butter and cut up some tomatoes, onions, sesame seeds, and olive oil to the green beans."

"Wow! They look delicious," her father Tom folded his newspaper and set it aside as he sat down, surveying the side dishes with appreciative wide eyes. His thick-framed glasses were halfway down the bridge of his nose and he still had on the overalls he had worn at work. Splotches of gray and white dotted his faded uniform. Christine and her mother did not have to guess what colors he used to paint the building downtown today.

Her mother Fran gave her a sideways glance. "It must be exam time again," she eyed her daughter with a knowing expression.

Christine, who was about to pick up her fork, put it down again and said, "Why do you say that, Mom?"

"Oh, I've noticed whenever it comes to studying a subject you don't like, you spend extra time on the food as a way of putting off studying, Fran said, raising her eyebrows. "But just do your best." Her expression darkened as she added, "Too bad we can't help you with your studies. How's it going with the tutor?"

Christine chewed slowly. "He has to keep repeating the concepts with those darn graphs. He probably thinks I'm slow."

"Don't worry about what he thinks. Is he helping you?" her father asked.

"Eventually, I get it. Beth is a little better whenever she helps me. She's majoring in economics and has taken this class before," Christine said as she reached for the green beans.

"Tell us if you need another tutor. Look around. But I've got to say I enjoy these side dishes. Maybe you can make them even if you're not putting off studying," Tom said as he put a generous helping of mashed potatoes in his mouth and closed his eyes as he relished the taste. "Mmmm, I love the garlic."

Fran shifted in her chair.

"I got out of the bridal shop late, as usual on Thursdays. All I had time to do was cut up a few vegetables and add a few spices to the meatloaf," she stared directly at her husband.

"Mom, you do a great job in the little time you have," Christine cut into her meatloaf, "I just get inspired to prepare dishes when I dread studying."

Tom put his head back so his spectacles focused in on his wife. "If it wasn't for you working outside the home, we'd never make our mortgage payments every month and put Christine through college. Those are mighty big contributions."

Fran smiled. "I try to cover all my bases."

"And you achieve them and more," her husband declared.

The meal resumed and Tom put another bite of garlic potatoes in his mouth, closing his eyes as he savored it. He eyed the green beans and served himself a generous helping, mixing them with the meatloaf.

Fran wasn't paying attention; her eyes were focused on Christine. She cleared her throat.

"Christine, have you heard from your boyfriend lately?" she asked almost in an undertone.

"No," she replied, furiously stirring her green beans.

"I guess he's busy, wrapping up that movie role."

"I guess."

Tom, who had been listening, opened his eyes.

"Remember, those Hollywood actors are fickle. I've been reading that the young girls drool over this guy." His tone grew vehement as he added, "If he hurts my little girl, I'd like to break his legs. Then let's see him parade around in front of the cameras!"

"Oh Dad," Christine interjected. "I'm certainly not pinning all my hopes on him."

"That's right, Christine. It would be wonderful if you dated one of the young men at our church. Someone steady and not gallivanting all over the place."

Christine put down her fork with a thud. "Mom, maybe if he wants to get serious, he'll settle down. At least he respects my values."

"I know you're hopeful, Christine. It's just I'm concerned he's never going to be willing to settle down." Fran reached for her daughter's hand but Christine slid it underneath the table. "I just don't want you to get hurt."

"It looks like you have nothing to worry about. I haven't heard from him in a while. It's probably over," Christine stared down to her lap.

Her father tapped her arm. "It will be all for the best, Christine, you'll see. You'll meet someone much more suitable."

By then Christine had stood up. Throwing her napkin on her plate, she said, "You'll have to excuse me. I need to continue studying for finals."