"I'd like to raise a toast," Joel said with a stern look. "You know, the world at large thinks they know me and that I have all of these accomplishments. They're not entirely wrong, I am pretty awesome."
Only Joel would give such a strange toast at a dinner party.
"But they focus on the wrong things," Joel said. "They think I am proud of the Grammy awards I've won, the big house I have, the hot younger wife."
"Dad, we're eating here," Bethanny called out.
"Quiet dear," her mother said. "Daddy just called me young. The man speaks the truth."
"And I am proud of my wife," Joel continued. "But not because every time we go to the beach, they try to sneak a photograph. I am not proud of her for the money she earns. I am proud because she is my partner, and we've been married for almost two decades now. I am proud because she is resilient and loving, and because we're standing here in this moment."
"And my children, oh how I am proud of my children," Joel said, his eyes shifting towards the three Mcnarie children.
"I think I'll start with the older ones before I move on to the star of this weekend, my little Bethy-boo."
"Dad," Bethanny shouted, her cheeks flaming up.
"But you know, last year I expected to have two kids in college and one on the way. Most parents are proud to have two college dropouts, but I am. Blake, you took adversity and turned it into an opportunity. In less time than it takes most people to tie their shoes, you've built a fashion empire. You followed your passions, always. And even when those passions brought you heartache, you just stood back up and became this strong woman. It frightens me a little bit how easily you've grown up, but it also makes me smile. I know I must have done something right, because you are such a beautiful person."
"Dad," Blake whispered.
I hadn't honestly paid thay much attention to Blake; apparently she'd had an eventful year.
"And Bryan, well, I wasn't thrilled when I learned that you were leaving school. It made me nervous that you'll be following my path. But then I saw you play, and I saw a fire in your eyes that I've only seen in the professionals who truly pursue music for the art, not the fame. You are an amazing musician, and hearing the songs you've written was an indescribable experience. You are becoming a man. And if I didn't already have a million things to thank you for, you've also brought this beautiful girl into our home. I hope she stays for a long time."
Emali looked down nervously, and I could relate. He was one of my friends now, but it was still strange to get compliments from a rock legend. It was humbling. I watched Bryan and the girl, thinking they seemed happy. Bryan seemed oddly ready to settle down for such a young kid. Of course, I was a year older and was waiting to be with a woman I'd kissed only twice.
"And Bethanny," Joel said. "My little rugby star."
I laughed, giving her a toothy grin. God, it'd been an entire year since she gave me my first black eye.
"Bethanny, I have always been proud of you," Joel said. "You were born with an independent spirit. You always had your own opinion, own way of doing things. I never thought I would be excited to have a daughter reject all of my favorite things, but I am. You're a strong woman, and no one will be able to jerk you around. You have come to this moment in your life where you are about to graduate from high school and move onto college. You got into Berkley, and sometimes, I still marvel at how intelligent you are. I know sometimes the youngest children feel forgotten, but you are not forgotten, my daughter. You are unforgettable, and I love you beyond words. So I propose we raise a toast to Bethanny, the first Mcnarie to go to a college and actually graduate."
"To Bethanny," I said, raising a glass. She blushed as we all celebrated in her honor, and it warmed my heart. She was happy, thay was all I wanted.
The rest of the dinner was pretty good. I sent of lot of time talking to Bryan, trying g to get to know him. He was friendly, though he did give me a look every so often. I think Bryan was the only one to look at me with suspicious eyes when I smiled at Beth from across the room. He had some keen brother instincts.
"Hey you," Blake said, interrupting us. "Can I steal this guy for a while?"
"Sure," Bryan said. "I need to go find my girlfriend. Have you seen her?"
"Not in a little while," Blake said. "I think she went off to the girl's room."
"Well, I'll leave you two alone."
Bryan looked at us with suspicious eyes.
I just smiled, hoping his death glare would subside. No such luck. His menacing eyes followed me as he turned to leave.
"Hey you," Blake said. "I hear you've had some medical drama. Are you ok?"
"I am fine," I chuckled. "I may have embellished my condition a bit to your sister, who apparently has a big mouth."
I'd made it sound like my health problems were a bit more extensive in my emails. I guess I was bar asked to have been taken down by a mere appendix bursting.
"It's a family trait, Aaron."
"Well, I am ok," I replied. "My appendix burst during basic training and it did so in an unpleasant way. I was in the hospital for a few weeks."
"So you got discharged because you missed so much training, then."
"Yes, and I was then told not to reapply for the military, basically."
"Why not," she asked, trying to be sensitive.
"There are people in this country, even now, who are not comfortable with an Arabic man wanted to learn how to repair and build airplanes."
"But..." she started, her voice a bit shaky. "Not that it would be ok to discriminate either way, but you're not even Arab. You're from India, aren't you?"
"I am from Omaha, Nebraska," I said. "But yes, my grandmother is native to India, and my grandfather was from Trinidad. My mother practiced, in a very loose form, Hinduism. I am definitely not an Islamic extremist. I guess discrimination is rare in the military, but I don't know, I think it's a sign. I'm not meant to be a soldier."
"So what is your new plan," she asked.
"I was in the police academy," Aaron said. "I'm on the fast track to becoming one of LA's finest."
"What?" She said. "You're becoming a cop, in Los Angeles. Jesus, Aaron, are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"I can handle it," he said. "I'm pretty tough."
"Does Beth know yet? She is going to kill you if you don't get shot on your own."
I paused, remembering Beth's request. She wanted Beth to think we were, well, fighting. I needed a few white lies.
"Well, she doesn't need to know," I said. "She has always been too young for me, Blake. So now matter what she feels, I am not getting involved. The only thing she needs less than some older boyfriend is an older boyfriend who is busy trying to save the world. I don't know, maybe I'll never get married. I've never been good with women."
As I said this, my eyes instinctively watched her across the room, flipping her hand as she laughed. I saw Beth fiddle with her ruby necklace and smiled. Yeah, I could go with her charade for a while. Beth was crazy, but I'd make her happy at any cost.
"Oh, bullshit," Blake said, interrupting my daydream. "You had one epic failure and now you're scared. Such a man, running away from your problems."
"Careful Blake," I said. Blake was bossy.
"If you want to stay platonic with my sister, whatever," she said. "But don't pretend you're some lone wolf. You fell in love once, and I am sure you will do it again."
"I said I had feelings for Bethanny. I never said I loved her."
I needed to work on my acting skills.
"Yeah, well the look on your face last November said differently."
"She is a child, Blake."
"Not anymore," Blake said. "Look at her, she is growing up. And in some time, she'll need a man to stand by her side. Are you really fine with it being someone else?"
"Of course," I said. "I have to be ok with it."
But I wasn't ok with it. I just hope ed Beth's no dating idea was for real, and wouldn't lead her off to some Berkeley heartthrob.
Joel, who had been inside, came barging out, fury in his eyes, He marched right towards Blake and stared.
"Tell me what is happening, right now Blake," Joel said. I'd seen Joel angrier before, but not often.
"I am talking to Aaron," Blake said, confused.
"That's not what I meant," Joel said. "I found the box."
Everyone else was turning to stare, amazed to see Blake's father yelling. It was a rare occurrence, and she looked terrified.
"The box for the pregnancy test," my dad yelled. "Jesus, Blake, you have so much going on for you. You cannot be pregnant right now. You have too much to lose."
"I know," she said. "But I didn't take a pregnancy test. I'm not even...I'm not exactly sexually active Dad."
She whispered the last part.
"Then whose box is this?"
She gave me a questioning look, trying to decipher how bad things were about to look. I shook my head, knowing it wasn't Bethanny's pregnancy test. Thank god.
"Joel," Angela said. "It isn't what you think. None of your daughters is pregnant."
"Angela," Joel said. "Do you know whose box it is?"
"I do, but Joel honey, you need to calm down."
"Angie," Joel said. "Are we...we can't be...we're so old."
The panicked look on Joel's face was priceless. I repressed a laugh because even though Angela was younger, she wasn't that young.
"No Joel, I am not pregnant!" Angela laughed.
"Then whose box is it," Joel asked.
"It's mine," Emali said, who had been standing on the porch off to the side. "I am so sorry Bryan, I wanted to tell you differently. I am pregnant. I took a test tonight just to double check before I told you, and your mother saw me crying."
"It's ok." Bryan said. I think the look on his face was pure shock, and he had barely managed those two words.
"Shit," Joel said. "Emali, I didn't mean to embarrass you. When I think my daughters are in trouble, I sort of see red."
"Dad, you're still going to be grandpa," Bethanny called out.
"Let's talk privately," Bryan said. "Everyone else, carry on."
"Wow," I said. "Your family is crazy."
"I like to think we have flare," Blake replied. "I can't believe I am going to be an aunt."
"I can't believe Bryan is going to be a dad." I mused.
Blake has a phone call and excused herself.
I looked out on the terrace, noticing it was just Beth and I. I walked over to her, chuckling to myself.
"We're alone," she said. "All we needed was a surprise pregnancy to end up with some privacy. "
"Well, it was a timely interruption," I said. "I'm not a very good actor. Your sister is nosy."
"It's a family trait," Beth smiled. "Come on, I want to show you something. "
I just nodded and followed behind her. However crazy this night got, I knew why I was here. It was about Bethanny; it was all for her.
We went upstairs and climbed out of her bedroom window, onto the roof. She had a stoop on the second story, complete with a blanket and some snacks laid out.
"Did you plan this?" I asked her.
"Well, for myself," she said. "I like to come out here sometimes and stargaze. It's supposed to be a clear sky tonight and since my parents are busy discussing Bryan's future, we have some time to kill."
I looked up seeing the perfectly clear sky and smiled.
"This is the second pregnancy bombshell of the week," Beth said. "Why has no one heard of condoms? "
"Who else is pregnant? " I asked.
"Mel," Beth whispered. "She...she was dating Buck Covington. Now she is pregnant and alone."
"Wow," I said. "That guy is a jerk."
"Aaron," Beth whispered. "I can't have children."
"What?" I said, suddenly surprised.
"It's just," she sighed, started. "The day I went to see Buck, I was actually pregnant. When I caught him cheating, I decided to have an abortion. I went straight to the first clinic I could find. I had some complications. They didn't do it right. My uterus was damaged, and while it's possible for me to concieve, it's highly unlikely. "
"Oh Beth, " I said, grabbing her hand. "I'm sorry you went through that. "
"Does this...does it change anything between us."
"No," I said firmly. "If we got married, we'd figure it out. We'd adopt or buy lots of dogs, we'd figure it out. "
"Ok," Beth said. "I've never told anyone. I told Mel about the pregnancy, but not about the complications. I worry I did the wrong thing; it haunts me."
"You were fifteen, and it's done. You've got to forgive yourself. "
"It's just, this is the reason why I went crazy and slept with all those guys. I thought if I could just get pregnant again, it'd be like I never had the abortion. Like I never ruined my chance at having a family. Crazy, right?"
"Grief makes us crazy, Beth. You were grieving all you'd lost."
"Maybe, " she said. "But you...you're ok with this stuff?"
"I'm ok with you. I love you Beth. "
"I love you too," she whispered. "We're still not dating, though. "
"Well, can we 'not' hold hands for a while and watch the stars? "
"Yeah," she said. "I'd like that."
And then we sat up there, enjoying the silence for once.