The Bet

Chapter 36

Riley's POV

James opens the large, tall door, revealing what seems like paradise.

I scan the inside, taking everything in.

"We're home!" James calls out. I hear the sound of feet walking, and see a young boy trotting down the elegant stairway.

"This is my little brother, Jacob." James tells me.

"I'm guessing you're my brother's new girlfriend." The little boy says.

"Yeah, I'm Riley." I say. He nods.

"Yeah, I know. James is always talking about you. And when I say always, I mean always." He tells me.

  I notice him wink at James, and mouth "I'm helping you." I giggle a little at that.

"Okay Jacob, you can go now." James laughs awkwardly, making me laugh.

"I mean, he talks about you way more than he talked about all his other girlfriends." Jacob continues. James grabs Jacob, putting his hand over his mouth.

"As you can see, Jacob here likes to talk a lot about nonsense, but he's going to shut up now. Isn't that right Jacob?" James says. Jacob nods, his brother's hand still covering his mouth. James lets him go.

Then a larger man walks in. He's bald, but has stubbly white and grey beard. He smiles at me.

"I'm guessing you're the famous Riley?" He asks kindly. I blush and giggle.

"Yeah, I suppose that's me." I reply sheepishly. He just smiles sweetly.

Then I hear the clicking of high heels nearing closer. Until I see who it is.

The lady from the cafe. And also James's mother.

~~~~~

I clearly notice a significant change in her mood once she see's me, registering where she and I have made a previous encounter. A look of surprise and disgust is quickly masked by a fake smile.

"Mom, this is my girlfriend Riley." James says, sounding nervous.

"Yes." Is all she says, taking me in. I feel her looking me up and down with her icy blue eyes.

"Have we met before?" She asks, even though she obviously knows the answer.

"Maybe so." I reply, trying to sound confident, but it comes out barely a whisper.

"I'm sure it will come to me soon." She says.

Maybe she doesn't remember.

~~~~~

I follow James and his family to the dining room, a massive room with a large, old wooden antique table set with silverware and with matching chairs. I gulp.

Everyone takes a seat, myself taking caution of where I sit. Everything seems so expensive. I sit beside James. I slip my hand into his under the table, needing his touch as some kind of comfort.

Everyone remains quiet, while people in crisp uniforms carry out trays of food, quietly setting our supper in front of us.

"Thank you." I mumble quietly to the server as she sets my supper in front of me. I know what it's like to serve others. Embarrassing. Discriminating.

Everyone starts to eat in an awkward silence. For them, it might be normal. But for me, I feel like I'm dying a slow, and painful death.

"Well James, she sure is prettier than you described." James's father speaks up. James looks at me and smiles.

"Thank you." I reply shyly.

"Has James invited you to his sister's wedding as his date?" James's father asks me. I look at James in confusion.

"No, he hasn't." I say quietly.

"James, I thought you had invited Ashley." James's mother says. I felt like a bullet ripped through my heart.

"That was awhile ago." James says. I slowly remove my hand from his, making him realize that I was hurt.

"Well, you can't just cancel on her." She says.

"She can come. I mean, she is good friends with Jessica. But she won't be my date." James says.

Okay, that makes me feel a little better I guess.

"Well, you have to let her know soon." She tells him.

"Okay." James sighs.

Another server comes out with tea, placing a cup in front of his mother.

"Two sugar, two cream, and a drop of honey." She recites. "My regular cup. Not whatever you served me the other day Riley."

A harsh silence filled the air. I feel eyes on me.

"What do you mean dear?" James's father asks his smug wife.

"Oh, Riley had served me down at the cafe yesterday." She tells him. He looks surprised.

"Do you work there?" He asks me, probably hoping for the answer he's not going to get.

"Yes, I do." I reply, ashamed.

"Oh. Why?" He asks.

"My family doesn't have much money to support me, so I have to work." I explain, my voice shaking.

I see his parents shooting James looks of disappointment, and shame. I'm not what they wanted him to bring home. They were expecting some fancy, high class girl who spends her time spending her parents great wealth. They got far from that with me.

"What does your parents do for a living?" James's father asks me.

"My father was offered a job, but when he moved us here, the position was already filled. So now he's working odd jobs until he can find a permanent position somewhere. " I explain sadly.

"And your mother?" James's mother asks. I stay silent for a moment, closing my eyes.

"My mother is dead." I say quietly.

"Oh, what a shame." She says as if it was nothing. "What happened?"

"Mom!" James hisses in a warning tone.

"James, Riley can speak for herself. Go on dear." She persists.

"Cancer." I say quietly.

"Oh, how sad." She says, a sympathetic smile on her face that is doing a bad job of hiding its falseness. My eyes begin to sting with tears.

I have had enough. I've had enough of being embarrassed, shamed, and tormented.

"Will you excuse me for a moment?" I ask. "James, where's the washroom?"

"Down the hall on your left, first door on the right." He explains. I see him shooting his parents glares.

"Thank you." I muster out before taking down the hall.