“You worried about Ben too,” she said. “You still knew how to sound proud of him.”
Her father opened his mouth and closed it.
Ben spoke next.
“Dad, when I enlisted, you told everybody I was becoming a man. When Audrey enlisted, you asked how long she planned to stay before settling down. That’s not the same worry.”
Their father looked betrayed.
“I never told you to leave the service.”
“You didn’t have to,” Audrey said.
Silence again.
One aunt began gathering empty plates, then stopped when Audrey looked toward her. No one rescued the conversation.
Her father picked up the small box.
For one hopeful second Audrey thought he had finally understood.
He held it out to her.
“Fine. If this matters that much, I’ll do it now.”
The offer hurt worse than the refusal.
Audrey did not take the box.
“No.”
His hand froze.
“You wanted me to do it.”
“I wanted you to want to be part of it. I don’t want you to perform it because Ben embarrassed you in front of people.”
Her father’s face hardened.
“So there is no right answer.”
Audrey felt tears sting her eyes.
“There was. It was when I asked you the first time.”
No one moved.
Then Matt crossed the room and stood beside her, not touching her until she reached for his hand.
Audrey looked at the guests.
“I’m sorry this became uncomfortable.”
Ben shook his head. “Don’t apologize for that.”
She almost smiled.
“Right. I’m not sorry. I’m just done having this conversation in front of everybody.”
