If At First

Part 10 - Chapter 9

Haven failed to repress a chuckle and nodded. "Of course." He pulled out my chair and as I sat down, he leaned close enough so that only I could hear him say, "I wouldn't consider waiting for many things, but I think you'll find ...dinner to be worthwhile."

What? What was that supposed to mean? Who's supposed to be dinner in that comment? Warmth rose into my face once again, as Haven took his seat across from me. How was I supposed to concentrate on anything when he was right in front of me? Stop it, Tabby, don't look at him.

"Well I'll tell you this, Haven." Darling said, "Tabitha is, by far, my favorite friend of yours."

His lips twitched. "You're in luck then, Tabby. There's nothing I like more than someone who's won over my mother."

"Oh, don't be an idiot," Darling said good-humouredly, "it doesn't become you. The girls you introduce to me might as well be science projects. It's like you seek them out just to torment your father and me!"

Haven's blue eyes sparkled at this, and he coughed to cover a laugh.

Delighted and emboldened by his mother's reproach, I smiled as well, saying, "Still, it's good to know, I suppose. I don't intend to seek Haven's good opinion, but it doesn't hurt to know how to do it." My grandmother's mouth dropped open but I continued. "I do regret though Darling, that in order to preserve his suspicious disapproval of me I'm left no choice but to be rude to you. It's too bad, really. I liked you so much." I don't know what got into me. Maybe it was the wine.

"Tabitha!" Nana scolded.

Darling let out an almost unladylike burst of laughter, saying to my grandmother "Just like her mother!" And taking a sip from her glass, pointed to Haven and said, "Watch yourself. I think you've met your match in this one." She signaled to the server by the door. "So, Tabitha, how did Haven meet you?" She asked innocently as the first course was served.

Every muscle in my body tensed, and I looked across the table. Haven's expression was full of laughter. Would he have told her Las Vegas? But I had said I wasn't supposed to be there. Was he not supposed to be there either? Or the Gas Station perhaps? Please, no. Maybe the wedding? Had he told her anything?

After a dreadful moment, Haven spoke first. "The Harper wedding, Mother. Remember you asked me to go in your place? Tabitha was the Maid of Honor, and unfortunately obligated to dance with the obnoxious guests. I was lucky enough to be one of them."

Hello again, Mr. Manners, nice of you to show up.

"Well then! The Harper wedding?" Darling cooed. "What a fortunate coincidence that you're here with us! Where are you from, sweetie? I mean before you came to stay with Rose? I'm afraid I lost touch with Charlie after college so everything I know of her was what I read about or heard from friends. -Which was very little, because Harlan and I took off after we were married, and we've been bouncing around ever since. I only hear the bare facts from your grandmother, I was afraid perhaps she didn't see much of her children once they were married. Such a sweet woman, your grandmother." She smiled over to Nana. "She's had such a hard time without your grandfather these past few years, and the help she's gotten stuck with has been a nightmare, hasn't it Rose? I hope this newest nurse turns out to be a keeper, Lord knows how you keep finding them, you poor dear. We had Harlan look into Beverly's background before we recommended her of course, so I'm sure she'll work out. She stayed with an aunt of Haven's for a few months after she broke her leg and she was so, very attentive. Where did you say, again?"

I was hoping she would keep talking until she lost the thread of her original thought. Plan B was obscurity.

"Madison, " I choked.