Matt stood near the sandwich table. He did not step in.
Audrey continued. “I asked you twice. You said people make too much of ordinary career steps. Then Ben walked in from work and you spent twenty minutes telling everyone how hard he works.”
Her father’s cheeks reddened.
“This has nothing to do with your brother.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.”
Ben exhaled.
Their father looked at him sharply.
“Don’t make this into something ugly. I was proud when Audrey joined. I worried about her. That’s what fathers do.”
Audrey felt the old explanation settle over the room.
Worry. The word that had covered every difference for years.
“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.”
She turned to her father.
“We can talk later if you want to actually talk.”
Then she picked up the box herself and walked outside.
Ben followed after a minute. Matt gave her longer.
Audrey stood on the back steps with the box in both hands.
“I’m sorry,” Ben said.
“For what?”
“For doing that in front of everyone.”
Audrey looked at him.
“I’m not.”
