We're Not Related Anymore...

Ugh. Brunch.

That gets everyone's attention. Josh and Betty snap out of their funk long enough to talk over each other.

"Really, Dad?" Betty questions at the same time Josh says, "Excuse me, what the fuck?"

"What? He's just gotten out of prison. I'm not surprised he's so taken with the young Maggie."

"It's Maddie," Betty corrects and my mouth falls open. Damn, that's a first. "And don't you think that's a bit of an inappropriate thing to say?"

"As opposed to what? Completely sulking at the celebration brunch I'm paying for? If I want to connect with my old friend, I will. And you can't dictate what we can and can't say," the mayor finishes and I try to remember if he's always been this slimy. He seemed more sophisticated when I first met him but maybe that's just his public persona.

"Well, as much as I love to be the center of attention, Maddie's about twenty years too young for me. So maybe we should drop this topic before it gets out of hand," Adrian says, signaling to a waiter to come take our orders.

I watch Lilian out of the corner of my eye. She has her lips pursed. She doesn't seem to approve of anything Adiran does, not even breathing. I'm still mad at her for this morning's conversation and I find myself feeling sympathetic with the man who seems to be stuck on her bad side.

"Damn," I say because I can't help myself. "There goes my sugar daddy plan..."

Now I'm the one being eyed like I just dropped a turd on the restaurant floor. Everyone stares at me with bugged eyes and open mouths. Only Mary, surprisingly enough, seems amused. I force myself not to look and see Jacob's expression, and I hate myself for wanting to know what it looks like. Is he amused like his sisters? Or staring me down like my brother?

"Thank you for that observation, Maddie. Where is that damn waiter," My mother says, between clenched teeth.

The waiter eventually comes by, eyeing our table like we're a bomb that's about to implode. He takes our orders quickly, without writing anything down and I've got to hand it to him. If I did that, everyone would end up getting burgers with a medium patty and fries.

"So Maddie..." Betty says and I whip my head towards her. Why does everyone keep bringing the conversation around to me?

I decide to voice my thoughts out loud.

"You seem like the safest bet to avoid the obvious tension," Shelley answers, popping a piece of her bread roll into her mouth.

"Plus you're leaving so it's not like we'll have to deal with the consequences of offending you," Mary finishes and I have to agree with that logic.

"You're leaving?" Josh and Jacob ask at the same time and I sigh.

"When?" Jacob demands, all eyes on me again.

"After this delightful outing," I respond, looking out at the ceiling-to-floor windows of the restaurant. All those happy people outside, going about their lives without a care in the world. I can't wait to be one of them again.

"But you just got here," Jacob continues and I want to kick him. After all the uncomfortable conversations I've had to endure, I would've hoped that he wouldn't sound like a hurt lover in front of a table of the most judgemental people I've ever met.

I guess it's my fault. I've been avoiding talking to him in private so it makes sense that we'd be forced to have this conversation now.

"Well, I have a job to get back to. Unlike others, I don't have a summer vacation to relax and chill," I say, deflecting, studying my chipped nails so that I don't have to look at anyone.