Chapter 3

With three days left until the induction, Mother invited me to lunch.

“Only you and me,” she said. “We can discuss your plans for the future.”

I already had my plane ticket. One meal couldn't undo what had happened in the study. But she'd asked about my plans. I wanted to know what she would say if Vivian weren't there.

I booked her favorite Italian restaurant for noon the following day. Getting there thirty minutes early, I ordered her usual lobster bisque and the truffle risotto she insisted no other place in Manhattan could get right.

At 12:30, I texted to ask when she'd arrive.

At one, I tried calling. There was no answer.

Her food cooled on the table. The waiter asked if he should take her plate, but I told him she might still be coming.

At two, he discreetly refreshed the ice in the glass she hadn't touched.

By three, nearly everyone who'd come for lunch had gone. Whenever a person passed our table, I checked my phone and tried not to stare at her empty seat.

Her message finally came at 3:47.

Something urgent came up. Let's do lunch another day.

I hadn't even answered when a photo popped up in the Moretti family chat. Vivian had posted it.

Mom helped me pick these for the induction. Don't you love them?

Her nails were ivory, decorated with little gold roses and diamonds.

Mother answered before anyone else: Just right for my beautiful girl.

Adrian followed: They look good on you.

Even Father joined in: Very tasteful.

I zoomed in, though there was nothing left to check. A manicure was the urgent matter. Mother had spent the afternoon beside Vivian while I waited, and she knew exactly where I was.

My calls had gone unanswered for hours. Vivian's picture got a reply in seconds.

When the waiter returned, I let him remove Mother's place setting. I ordered a meal for myself, ate it on my own, and went home.

Garment bags were draped over the living room furniture. Rows of designer shoes stood next to Vivian's gowns. An antique diamond necklace sat in an open jewelry case. Mother was trying different shawls against her shoulders.

“Where have you been?” Mother demanded. “There are two days left, and you haven't done anything to help.”

“Waiting for you. Until four.”

“I said I had something to deal with. I've been working on your induction all day. And instead of saying thank you, you walk in here trying to start an argument.”

I glanced at Vivian's nails. “That was the emergency? Her manicure?”

Adrian got up from the couch. “We've spent the whole day sorting things out. Everything's ready, yours included. You think Mom has time to spend hours in a restaurant talking about your feelings?”

“Lunch was her idea.”

Vivian dropped her hands. “Don't, Adrian. Natalie has a point. Mom should have met her. My nails weren't important.”

She'd let Mother stay for the entire appointment. Agreeing with me afterward wouldn't give me back the afternoon.

“I wanted this to be perfect for both of you,” Mother said. “Whatever I do, Natalie always finds a reason to be unhappy.”

Father raised his head. “Enough of this. Your mother has put in a great deal of work. You could show her some appreciation.”

All afternoon, I'd practiced what I would say to Mother. I'd thought explaining the wait might help her understand why it had hurt.

Instead, I was being told to apologize for bringing it up.

“Okay,” I said.

I left for my room before someone found another task for me.

On my bed were a pair of white ceremonial gloves and an ivory shawl from Vivian's wardrobe. I'd seen her wear it once. Afterward, she'd complained that the embroidery made her look old.

I lifted it. Moretti roses ran along the embroidered border.

Mother was still downstairs picking out new shawls for Vivian. Apparently, this was what having my things ready meant.

I'd spent years trying to become a daughter they could love without any trouble. Higher grades, more awards, less asking. I thought that if I kept it up, sooner or later they'd decide it was my turn.

They hadn't overlooked the things I'd achieved. They remembered them whenever they needed a reason I shouldn't ask for more.

I folded the shawl my sister no longer wanted and laid it back on the bed.