Chapter 12

We were all gathered around the table after church earlier that day. Mom had made brunch, an array of food around the table.

“Ya know,” Dad spoke up in between chewing a piece of sausage. “That Rachel, she’s a pretty girl. Reminds me of you, Eve.” He commented, giving me a pointed glance.

“Oh, yeah?” I asked as I picked around my plate. “Why?” I murmured, glancing up at him briefly. Ivy, who was seated on his right, gave him a curious look, her brows furrowed.

“Eh, you know. You’re pretty. She’s pretty. I don’t know. You look similar,” He shrugged. “And I could just imagine you walking down the aisle like her.” He added casually.

“What?” Kaylee, Ivory, and I all asked in tandem. Each of us had a different tone even if we asked the same question.

“Why are you all lookin’ at me like that?” Dad asked gruffly, glancing around the table. Mom’s gaze was now fixed on him too, her eyes practically boring a hole through his head.

“Evelyn’s seventeen.” Ivy reminded him through clenched teeth. Dad looked towards her with a dramatic sigh, shaking his head.

“And? Your mother was seventeen when she married me.” He brushed it off.

“Yeah, but Dad, I don’t want to be married,” I said. It wasn’t often I spoke up for myself but the possibility of marriage terrified me.

“Oh, c’mon, Evelyn. Sooner rather than later, right? It’ll happen eventually.” He grunted, taking another bite of his food. He was too casual for my liking. For any of our likings. Well, except Kaylee’s. She looked oddly eager as she sat beside me.

“But what if I don’t want it to happen?” I pushed on, my brows furrowed worriedly.

“It will anyways, might as well get over it,” Dad told me as his gaze set on me and his eyes stared into mine, the brown color of his iris looked even darker now.

“Dave, don’t tell her that. Not everyone needs to be married.” Mom interrupted quietly from beside him. Her voice was meek as usual, like a mouse, but her expression spoke a thousand words. Dad glanced over and his cold eyes scanned over her expression. He softened, but only momentarily.

“My girls will be married. Married to a nice man. You didn’t like me at first either, honey. Look at us now.” He said simply, turning his head away. Ivy let out a humorous huff at that, rolling her eyes.

“I sure won’t be partaking in that,” Ivy murmured.

“You are one of my girls, aren’t you?” Dad muttered sternly.

“When am I going to be married, Dad?” Kaylee chirped. We all looked over at the oddly smiley girl. I sighed and shook my head gently, looking away from her.

“When you find a suitor.” He shrugged.

“Why are you demanding I get married but she doesn’t need to hurry?” I mumbled as I stared down at my plate. I was the youngest. Why was I to be married off first? Shouldn’t it be the other way around? Ivy was the oldest, but she didn’t want to be married either. Kaylee, however, was eighteen and clearly looking forward to a husband.

“Because Eve. Guys like girls like you. You’re pretty and obedient,” he said. “Most of the time.” He added. “And ya know, I know a kind guy who you would get along with quite well, I could probably-,”

“I’m not pretty and obedient?” Kaylee asked, tilting her head. Mom, Ivy, and I all sighed in tandem.

“You are,” Dad grunted. “In your own way. But I’m talking about Eve.” He said.

“I’m not gonna get married. I don’t want to.” I demanded.

“Last time I checked you also do not make the rules around here, do you?” Dad hissed. I stared at him angrily, my blood boiling. I felt the tears well in my eyes, my throat tightening painfully. Before anyone could make any more comments or remarks, I pushed myself away from the table and rose to my feet in a flash. I stomped away, heading for the stairs.

“Eve, baby,” Mom called, standing to follow me. Dad grabbed her wrist before she could make it very far.

“Leave it, dear. She’s being dramatic.” He told her. His intense eyes followed me for a moment longer before he released Mom’s wrist and resumed eating casually.

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“I hate being a girl! I hate it! I hate it!” I sobbed into Ellie’s chest. I’d climbed from my window, like I had seen Ellie do so many times, after the fight with my dad and ran to Ellie’s house. It was sort of cold out today and my hands were still numb as I clutched her shirt in between my ice-cold fingers.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Ellie soothed as she held me tight, pulling back to grasp my face in her hands. “It’s okay…It’s alright. What’s going on?” She murmured softly, stroking my cheeks with her thumbs.

“I don’t wanna get married,” I hiccuped, burying my face in her shirt again.

“What…? No, Eve, it’s okay. You won’t get married for a while.” She said with a hint of amusement.

“No,” I cried, turning my head to look up at her with glossy eyes. “Dad said I have to get married. Soon.” I whimpered. She froze momentarily, and her hand that was once rubbing my back stopped. Her shoulders tensed and her face hardened.

“What?” Ellie asked sharply, meeting my eyes.

“He says I have to get married,” I whispered shakily.

“No, you don’t,” she declared. “You don’t do anything you don’t want, right?” She asked. I nodded. That’s what she told me the first day we met and I was surprised we both collectively remembered it. She had comforted me after I had my first fight with who was now an old forgotten friend. “Right?” She repeated.

“Right.” I sniffed.

“What’s going on in here? Party?” Ellie’s mom, Oliver, asked playfully as she walked in from the kitchen. “Oh…no party. Why are we crying?” She asked softly as she joined us.

“Dave has decided Eve’s getting married,” Ellie said tensely.

“What?” Oliver asked in surprise.

“Yeah,” I murmured, nodding into Ellie’s shirt, my teary face buried in the fabric.

“Oh, honey, nuh-uh. That man can’t make you get married. He’s only trying to scare you with his authority. You know I’d hire a lawyer if it really came down to it because you, my dear, will marry someone you love.” Oliver smiled at me, tapping my nose gently. I couldn’t help but smile at her and laugh softly. I sniffled once more and reluctantly nodded. Ellie looked down at me and brushed my hair back briefly, something flashing in her eyes that I couldn’t quite explain.