by Emily Giffin
"Is he black? Marcus sounds like a black name."
"No. He's white," I said.
"Does he go by Mark?"
"No. Just Marcus," I said, looking up at him and smiling.
"Marcus what?"
"Marcus Peter Lawson," I said proudly.
"I like the full name. A lot. I was never too keen on the name Dexter. Were you?"
"Not really," I said, even though I actually loved the name Dex. It had panache. But the name Marcus did too.
"What does he look like? Tell me all about him. How did you meet?"
"Well, Mother, how about you just meet him yourself? We're coming home this weekend. I got flights today."
Marcus's head jerked up to look at me. This was news to him. I hadn't quite gotten around to telling him about our travel plans.
"Fantastic news!" she shouted.
I heard my father ask in the background if I was getting back with Dex. My mother covered the phone, but I could still hear her say, "No, Hugh. Darcy has a new boyfriend."
Marcus frantically whispered something. I held up my hand and shushed him. He took an imaginary golf swing and mumbled that he had plans.
I shook my head and mouthed, "Cancel."
"Well, just give me a short prelude," my mom said. "What does he look like?"
"He's handsome," I said. "You'll love him. And as a matter of fact, he's here right now. So I better run."
"Oh! Let me say hello to him," she said.
"No, Mom. You'll meet him soon enough!"
"I can't wait," she said.
"You'll like him way more than Dex," I said, winking at Marcus. "I know you will."
"Dex?" My mother giggled. "Dex who?"
I smiled as I hung up the phone.
"What's the big idea?" Marcus demanded.
"I forgot to tell you," I said breezily. "I booked us flights to Indy."
He threw his slice of pizza back into the greasy box and said, "I'm not goin' to Indy this weekend."
"I asked you if you had plans. Remember? You said you didn't."
"You asked about Friday or Saturday nights. I'm golfing Saturday afternoon."
"With whom? Dex?"
Marcus rolled his eyes. "I have other friends in this town, ya know."
Very few, I thought. Another problem in our relationship. When I was with Dex, we traveled in a pack, a big group of friends. But Marcus and I spent all of our time alone, most of it holed up in his apartment. I knew I needed to stage our coming-out party, but I wasn't quite ready for my discerning crowd to sit in judgment of my new boyfriend. And in any event, I needed to buy him some new clothes first.
Marcus continued, "Darcy, you just can't book a trip like that without telling me. That's not cool."
"C'mon, Marcus. This is really important. Just play ball on this one," I said, using one of his many sports expressions.
He shook his head.
I smiled and said in my sweetest voice, "You need to meet your in-laws. We need to get this show on the road."
He sighed wearily and said, "In the future, don't go signing me up for shit without asking me. But this time, I'll do it."
As if you ever had a choice, I thought.
For the first time in my long dating history, I could tell my parents actually wanted to like the boy I was bringing home. Their instinct in the past was always to judge and disapprove. My father would follow the script of the living room interrogator, the staunch enforcer of curfews, the guardian of my virtue. Although I'm sure he really did have some protective instincts, I always had the feeling that it was mostly for show. I could tell my mother loved the routine by the way she would rehash it all later. "Did you see the way your father put Blaine back on his heels?" she would ask me the morning after a date. I think it reminded her of her own teenage years, when she was the big prize in her sleepy Midwestern town and my grandfather had to chase away her suitors.
While my father was a tough customer on the outside, my mother was harsh in private, after being all sugar and spice to the boy's face. She had high standards for me. Specifically, any man of mine had to be as handsome as I was pretty. He had to be mainstream handsome at that. No quirky good looks would do. He also had to be smart, although she would let this one slide if he had money. And he had to have a certain well-mannered slickness. I called this "show quality"-the "impress the neighbors" factor. Dex had this one in spades. He passed with flying colors in every category.
Marcus, on the other hand, was far from perfect, but he had one significant thing going for him: my parents had a strong need to like him. What was their alternative? Have their daughter thirty and alone? I knew the thought made both of them shudder. Well, it made my mother shudder, and therefore it became my father's problem too. My mother loved that I had a glamorous job and made good money, but she made it perfectly clear that she thought I should get married, have babies, and live a life of leisure. She wasn't going to hear an argument from me over that game plan. My job could be fun, but not as much fun as a massage at Bliss, shopping at Bendel's, and lunch at Bolo.
So that Friday, Marcus and I flew to Indianapolis for the big introduction. We found my father waiting at baggage claim, all smiles. My father is what you would call polished. Full head of dark hair always in place, polo shirts and sweaters with pressed khakis, loafers with tassels. Glow-in-the-dark teeth befitting the best dentist in town.
"Daddy!" I squealed as we approached him.
"Hi, baby," he said, opening his arms wide to embrace me. I inhaled his aftershave and could tell that he had just showered before his drive over.
"It's so good to see you," I said in my "daddy's little girl," borderline baby-talk voice.
"You too, sweetie pie."
My father and I didn't know any other way to interact. When we were alone for any length of time, we'd fall silent and awkward. But on the surface, in front of an audience, we fulfilled our conspicuously traditional roles-roles that made us both feel comfortable. I don't think I would have even noticed this dynamic but for watching Rachel with her own father. They talked like real friends, equals.
My dad and I separated as I turned to Marcus, who was shifting from foot to foot and looking most uncomfortable. "Daddy, this is Marcus."
My dad squared his shoulders, stepped forward, and gave Marcus's hand a hearty pump. "Hello, Marcus. Hugh Rhone. Welcome to Indianapolis. It's a pleasure to meet you," he boomed in his chipper dentist's-office voice.
Marcus nodded and mumbled that it was nice to meet him too. I gave him a look, widening my eyes as if to say "Is that the best you can do?" Had he ignored my lecture during the flight, my tireless explaining that my parents were all about image? "First impressions are last impressions" was one of my father's favorite expressions. I had told Marcus this.
I waited for Marcus to say something more, but instead he averted his eyes to the luggage belt. "Is that your bag?" he asked me.
"Yes," I said, spotting my Louis Vuitton suitcase. "Grab it for me, please."
Marcus leaned down and heaved it from the belt. "Sheesh," he said under his breath, the fourth comment he had made about my over-packing since we had left the city.
"Oh, Marcus, let me," my dad said, reaching for my bag.
Marcus shrugged and gave it to him. "If you insist."
I cringed, wishing he had protested at least once.
"So that's it, Daddy. Marcus just has his carry-on bag," I said, glancing at his nasty pea-green satchel with a frayed strap and some defunct Internet logo emblazoned on the side. I saw my father take it in too.
"Okeydokey. We're off," my dad bellowed, rubbing his hands together vigorously. Then, as we found his BMW in the parking garage, he told us of his speeding ticket on the way over. "Was only going seven over."
"Daddy, was it really just seven?" I asked.
"Cross my heart. Seven over. Marcus, the cops in this town are relentless."
"That's what I told you in high school!" I said, hitting his arm. "A lot of good that excuse ev
er did me."
"Drinking vodka in the Burger King parking lot at sixteen? That is hardly what I'd characterize as overzealous police work." My dad chuckled. "Marcus, I have a lot of stories to tell you about our girl here."
Our girl. It was a big concession. That combined with his chipper mood on the heels of a ticket was only further proof of his determination to like my new boyfriend.
"I can only imagine," Marcus said from the back seat, his voice detached, bored. Was he was missing my dad's cues, or was he simply unwilling to go along with the jovial routine?
I glanced back at him, but his face was in shadow and I couldn't read his expression. For the rest of the ride home, Marcus said virtually nothing despite plenty of effort from my father.
As we pulled into our cul-de-sac, I pointed out Rachel's house to Marcus. He made an acknowledging sound.
"Are the Whites away?" I asked my father, noticing that all of their lights were out.
He reached over and squeezed my knee with one hand and then clicked our garage door opener with the other. "No. They're around, I think."
"Maybe they knew I was coming home and couldn't bear to face me," I said.
"Just remember, it's not their fault," my dad said. "It's Rachel's."
"I know," I said. "But they did raise a traitor."
My dad made a face as if to say, "Fair point."
"Think Mom will mind if we go in through the back way?" he asked me. My mother believes that visitors should always be brought through the front door-not that Marcus would ever notice the difference.
Sure enough, my mom peered into the garage and whispered, as if Marcus and I couldn't hear her, "Hugh, the front door."
"The kids have bags," he said.
My mother forced a smile and said in her turbocharged, company voice, "Well then, come in! Come in!" As always, she was in full makeup-she put her "face" on even to go to the grocery store. Her hair was swept up in a jeweled clip I had bought for her at Barneys, and she was dressed in ivory from head to toe. She looked beautiful, and I was proud for Marcus to see her. If he subscribed to the whole "a daughter will end up looking like her mother" notion, he had to be exceedingly pleased.
Marcus and my father fumbled with our bags, maneuvering them between our car and the lawnmower as my mom lectured my father about pulling the car in too far to the left.
"Dee, I'm perfectly centered," he said, agitation creeping into his voice. My parents bickered constantly, more with every passing year, but I knew that they would stay together for the long haul. Maybe not for love, but because they both liked the image of the proper home-the good, intact family. "I'm perfectly centered," he said again.
My mom resisted a retort, and opened the door wide for us. As she kissed me, my nose filled with her heavier-than-usual application of Chanel No. 5. She then turned to Marcus, putting one hand on each of his cheeks and planting a big kiss just to the right of his mouth. "Marcus! Welcome! It's so nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Marcus mumbled back.
My mother hates mumblers. I silently hoped that the shame of greeting a guest between our dark garage and laundry room would distract her from noticing my boyfriend's poor enunciation. She quickly ushered us into the kitchen. A spread of cheese, olives, and her famous shrimp puffs was laid out on the counter.
My brother, Jeremy, and his girlfriend, Lauren, suddenly bounded around the corner like two overeager house pets. Neither of them was ever in a bad mood. My father once said that the pair had two modes: chipper or asleep. True to form, Lauren wasted no time postintroduction and launched into an inane tale about one of our neighbors. I have known Lauren since she was a baby-she lived down the street from us and Rachel occasionally babysat her-so I knew that she was the kind of girl who could dominate a conversation by saying absolutely nothing in the sort of way you expect from an old lady in church, not a twenty-five-year-old. The weather, the big sale at JoAnn Fabrics, or the latest winner of bingo at Good Haven, the nursing home where she worked.
As Lauren concluded her story, my father offered Marcus a drink.
"A beer would be great," he said.
"Get him a chilled glass, Hugh," my mother said, as my dad flicked off the top of a Budweiser.
"Oh, I don't need a glass. Thanks, though," Marcus said, taking the bottle from my father.
I gave him a look to indicate that he should have taken the glass as we all followed my mother to the living room. Lauren sat close to my brother on the couch, clutching his arm in a death grip. My brother is a bit of a dork, too, but as I studied his girlfriend's sweatshirt with the Good Haven logo, acid-washed, cropped jeans, Keds with no socks (a look I couldn't even stomach during its brief acceptable stint in high school), I determined for the hundredth time that he could do better. Marcus and I took a seat on the opposite couch, and my parents took the two armchairs.
"So," my mother said, crossing her ankles. I assumed she was ready to interrogate Marcus. I felt nervous, but also excited, hopeful that he would rise to the occasion and make me proud. But instead of focusing on Marcus, my mother said, "Lauren and Jeremy have some news!"
Lauren giggled and threw out her left hand, revealing what appeared from my seat on the opposite couch to be a princess-cut diamond ring set in white gold or platinum. "Surprise!"
I looked at my brother. I was surprised, all right. Surprised that it wasn't a marquis cut set in yellow gold.
"We're getting married," Jeremy confirmed.
Marcus spoke before I could. "Congrats." He raised his beer.
Jeremy returned the gesture with his glass of Coke. "Thanks, man."
Jeremy shouldn't say man. He just can't pull it off. He hasn't a cool bone in his body.
"Congratulations," I said, but my voice sounded stilted, unnatural. I stood to survey the goods, quickly determining that although the diamond was a decent size, it was slightly yellowish. I pegged it as a J in color.
"Very nice," I said, returning Lauren's hand to my brother's knee.
My mother started to gush about a May wedding in Indy and a reception at our country club.
I told them how happy I was for them, my mouth stretched into a fake smile as I tried to suppress a stab of envy. I wondered how I could possibly be jealous of my dorky little brother and this girl with bad bangs and thick thighs shoved into acid-washed jeans. Yet incredibly, I was. I was bothered by my mother's enthusiasm. Bothered that Lauren was replacing me as the bride-to-be, my mother's focal point. And what annoyed me the very most was that their spring wedding was going to shift the focus from my baby and me.
"Should I ask her now?" Lauren looked eagerly at Jeremy.
"Go ahead." Jeremy beamed.
"Ask me what?"
"We want you to be a bridesmaid," Lauren chirped. "Because you've always been like a big sister to me." She looked at Marcus and explained further, "Darcy used to babysit for me."
"I never babysat for you. Rachel did," I said.
"Well, true," Lauren said, her smile fading slightly. Mention of Rachel sombered up the room. I liked the effect-liked reminding everyone of my suffering. But the result was short-lived. Lauren's grin quickly returned in full force. "But you were always there helping her. You were so fun."
"Thanks," I said. "I try."
"So will you?"
"Will I what?" I asked, pretending to be puzzled.
"Be a bridesmaid?"
"Oh. Yeah. Sure thing."
Lauren clapped and squealed. "Goody! And I want your help. I need your help."
She could say that again, I thought. And sure enough, she did. "I need you to help because you're so good at this stuff."
"Why? Because I'm the wedding expert now that I just spent almost a year planning one?" Another reminder of my pain.
Lauren flinched, but then recovered. "No. Not that. Just because you have the most excellent taste." She turned to Marcus again. "Incredible taste. Nobody has taste like Darcy."
This much was true.
Marcus nodde
d and then took another swallow of beer.
"So I need your help," she continued excitedly.
Okay. Let's start with those jeans. And the Keds. And your bangs.
I looked at my mother, hoping she was thinking the same thing. She was usually right on board with the Lauren criticism, recently ranting about her application of blush: two round circles of pink missing her cheekbones altogether. Not that Lauren had much in the way of cheekbones. She wasn't bringing the best genes to the table. But clearly my mother was not in her usual critical mode; she was hypnotized by the rosy glow of a new wedding to plan. She looked at Jeremy and Lauren adoringly. "Lauren has been dying to call you. But Jeremy and I convinced her to wait to tell you in person."
"I'm so glad you did," I said flatly.
"You were right, Mom," Lauren said.
Mom? Had I heard that right? I looked at Lauren. "So you're calling her 'Mom' now?" Pretty soon she was going to lay claim to my mother's jewelry and china.
Lauren giggled, pressed Jeremy's hand to her cheek in a nauseating display of affection. It looked like a bad Kodak commercial, the kind that's supposed to make you cry. "Yeah. I've felt that way about her for a long time, but now it feels right to call her that."
"I see," I said, with what I hoped was maximum disapproval. Then I glanced over at Marcus, who was finishing his beer.
"You want another?" I asked, standing for the kitchen.
"Sure," he said.
I gave him a look. "Come with me."
Marcus followed me into the kitchen, where I went off on my family. "How could they go on and on about this wedding after what I just went through? Can you believe how insensitive they're all being? I wanted to tell them about us getting married. Now it just doesn't feel right. Probably because I don't even have a ring," I said. I shouldn't have shifted the blame to Marcus like that, but I couldn't help it. Casting the blame net wide is just my natural instinct when I'm upset.
Marcus just looked at me, and then said, "Can I get another beer?"
I opened the refrigerator with such force that a bottle of Heinz ketchup flew from the side shelf onto the floor.
