I Do Until I Don't

Chapter 25

  "I don't get why we need to do this," Julia says to our father once we're all in the car to our way to the restaurant we finally settled on for the wedding.

"I already told you," dad says, "Melanie insists on doing this, so we're doing this."

Julia rolls her eyes. "But why can't I go with them in the cool car instead of being here with you?" The "you" is directed at me, I can tell. Our parents know something's up between us, but we refuse to talk about it or to talk to each other. It's been a week. Even Melanie, who's caught up with the wedding, knows something's up.

"Because they arrived at the car faster," I explain in a polite voice. Way too polite. "Mom and Mel got the Maserati so we're stuck with the Jeep."

Dad likes to rent cool cars when we go on trips. It's his thing. San Francisco? Let's rent a BMW. New York? Who cares about cabs and metro, let's rent a Porsha.

Bad idea, might I say. Very bad idea.

Julia shrugs and moves her arm away from mine. "You're so sweaty. Move." I move my arm away from her, but end up hitting my shoulder on the car's window. "OWWW!" I shout.

"Don't blame me," Julia says, raising her arms.

"You're on my side of the car now."

"No!" She draws an invisible line like she's eight and not twenty. How is my sister twenty? "See? I'm not."

"UGGGHHH! JUST MOVE!"

My dad turns around from the driver's seat at the red light. "Is everything alright back there?"

"YES!" my sister and I say.

"Why couldn't I go in the shotgun seat?" I ask.

"Because the cake is there," Julia reminds me all matter-of-factly. "And I can't go on the other side of the car because dad's suit is there."

Dad knows better than to protest or defend himself. So he continues driving like nothing is wrong.

"Then walk!" I say. "Just walk to the restaurant."

"Or you can walk."

"I don't wanna walk!" I nearly shout. "Why can't you walk?"

"I have heels, mind you."

"Then stop wearing heels, Julia. Stop wearing things that make you uncomfortable!" I take a piece of her long silver cocktail dress she's wearing. Because, sure, why not wear a sparkly cocktail dress at a food tasting? "Seriously? Why do you like this?"

"Hey! We are not having a conversation on my style. At least I have style."

Dad stops abruptly the car, practically sending both Julia and me overboard.

"DAD! Ohmygod!" Julia screams. "Can't you drive?"

I know I shouldn't add to it, but I can't stop myself. "So, like I said, just walk."

"Jee, Ella-Mae. Calm down!"

"Hey! I did nothing wrong, here. You're the one who--"

"Who what? What did I do?"

I exhale, the loudest exhale I can manage and look through the window.

"I'm not doing this now. Not here. Not before we join Mélanie who's already too stressed."

"Then stop being so─"

"We're here!" dad says in a cheer. He parks the car and opens up the door. "Everybody out." If he were mom, he'd say something like how we'd talk about this later or we better not open our mouth during the last dessert tasting or else, but he's Dad and he knows us sisters won't ever do something to purposely sabotage someone else's happiness. So he opens up the door on my side and smiles at me.