“Such as?”
“Such as the importance of confidentiality for a start.”
“You don’t know Xavier, he’s as likely to blab as I am,” I said and realized the irony as soon as the words were out.
“Well, that really doesn’t inspire confidence, does it?” Gabriel remarked.
“Don’t worry, Bethany, we just want to get to know him,” said Ivy, giving my arm a maternal pat. She looked pointedly at Gabe. “We want him to feel comfortable. If we’re going to trust him, he has to be able to trust us.”
“What if he’s busy tonight?” I parried.
“We won’t know if you don’t ask him,” Gabriel replied.
“I don’t even have his number anymore.”
Gabriel went to a closet in the hall and returned with a hefty phone directory, which he dropped unceremoniously onto the table.
“I’m sure it’s listed,” he said darkly.
It was evident that Gabriel wasn’t going to be talked out of this idea, so I didn’t argue further and trudged off to call Xavier. The only protest I made was making sure to stomp up the stairs as loudly as possible. I’d never called Xavier’s house and an unfamiliar voice answered.
“Hello, Claire speaking.”
The voice was confident and impeccably polite. I had been secretly hoping that no one would pick up. If there was one thing that I felt might drive Xavier away, it was a night with my bizarre family. I considered hanging up the phone and telling Gabriel I couldn’t get through, but I knew there was little point — he’d know I was lying and make me call back. Or worse, he might insist on making the call himself.
“Hello, it’s Bethany Church calling,” I said in a voice so meek I barely recognized it as my own. “May I please speak to Xavier?”
“Sure,” the girl replied. “I’ll just get him for you.” I heard the clang of the receiver being put down, then her voice calling through the house. “Xavier! Phone!” I picked up a rustling noise and then the sound of children squabbling. Finally I heard footsteps, and Xavier’s dreamy voice echoed through the receiver.
“Hello, Xavier speaking.”
“Hi, it’s me.”
“Hello, me.” His voice lifted a notch. “Is everything all right?”
“Well, that depends on how you look at it,” I replied.
“Beth, what’s happened?” His voice was suddenly serious.
“My family knows that you know. I didn’t have to tell them.”
“Jeez, that was quick. How’d they take it?”
“Not well,” I admitted. “But then Gabriel met with the Covenant and…”
“I’m sorry… the what?”
“It’s a circle of powers — it’s too complex to explain now, but they’re consulted whenever things go, um, off course.”
“Right… and what was the outcome?”
“Well… nothing.”
“What do you mean nothing?”
“They said that for now things can stay as they are.”
“What about us? What happens there?”
“Apparently I’m allowed to keep seeing you.”
“Well, that’s good news, isn’t it?”
“I think so but I’m not sure. Listen, Xavier, Gabe’s behaving strangely — he wants to have you over tonight for dinner.”
“Well, that sounds positive.” I remained silent, not sharing his optimism. “Relax, Beth, I think I can handle it.”
“I’m not sure I can.”
“We’ll get through it together,” Xavier said. “What time do you want me there?”
“Is seven okay?”
“No problem. See you then.”
“Xavier…,” I said, nibbling at a fingernail. “I’m worried. We’re being thrown in the deep end here. What if this goes badly? What if he has bad news? Do you think it’ll be bad news?”
“No, I don’t, now quit stressing. Please — for me?”
“Okay. I’m sorry. It’s just that our whole relationship is kind of hanging by a thread and they’ve been merciful so far, but this dinner could make or break it and I’m not sure why Gabe…”
“Oh, man,” Xavier groaned. “See what you’ve done — now I’m stressing.”
“You can’t! You’re the stable one!”
Xavier laughed and I realized his distress had been feigned to illustrate a point. He wasn’t worried in the slightest.
“Just relax. Go and run a bath or have a shot of brandy.”
“Okay.”
“That second bit was a joke. We both know you can’t hold your liquor.”
“You seem very relaxed about this.”
“That’s because I am. Beth, isn’t serenity meant to be, you know, your thing? You worry too much. Honestly, it’ll be fine. I’ll even dress to impress.”
“No, no, just come as you are!” I begged into the phone, but he had already hung up.
Xavier showed up right on time, wearing a pale gray pin-striped suit and blue silk tie. He’d done something to his hair so that it no longer flopped but was slicked back away from his face. Under his arm he carried a bunch of long-stemmed yellow roses, wrapped in green cellophane and tied with raffia. I did a double take when I opened the door. Xavier grinned when he saw my face.
“Too much?” he asked.
“No, it’s great!” I said, genuinely pleased with his efforts. But my face clouded again almost immediately.
“Then why do you look so terrified?” He gave me a self-assured wink. “They’re gonna love me.”
“Just don’t make any jokes — they don’t really get them.” I felt jittery and my knees were starting to shake.
“Okay — no jokes. Should I offer to say grace?” I had to giggle then; I couldn’t help myself.
Although I should have been playing host and showing him into the living room, we lingered at the door like co-conspirators. Not knowing what the evening had in store, my instinct was to delay it as long as possible. Besides, at that moment all I could think was that Xavier was mine and that we belonged to each other. He might have been overdressed for a casual impromptu dinner, but he cut a pretty striking figure with his broad shoulders, fathomless blue eyes, and smoothed-back hair. He was my very own fairy-tale hero. And, like a fairy-tale hero, I knew I could rely on him not to run for cover when the going got tough. Xavier would stand his ground, and any decisions he made would be based on reasoning of his own. If nothing else, I knew I could depend upon that.
Ivy adopted the role of host effortlessly. She was charmed by the flowers and made small talk as well as every effort to make Xavier feel comfortable throughout dinner. Judgment didn’t sit easily with Ivy, and her heart melted once she deemed a person to be sincere. Xavier’s sincerity was authentic. It was this genuineness that had earned him the role of school captain as well as his widespread popularity. Gabriel, on the other hand, watched Xavier with a wary eye.
My sister had gone to a good deal of trouble with the menu — she’d made an aromatic potato and leek soup followed by whole baked trout and a tray of roasted vegetables. I knew there’d be crème brûlée for dessert as I’d seen them in the fridge, wobbling in ramekins. Ivy had even sent Gabe out in search of a kitchen blowtorch to caramelize the sugar topping. She’d also set the table with our silverware and best china. The wine in the decanter tasted of berries, and there was sparkling water in a crystal jug.
The candles on the table cast a glow over all our faces. We ate in silence at first and the tension was palpable. Ivy looked from me to Xavier and smiled too much, while Gabriel sliced up his food savagely, as though he were imagining the potatoes on his plate to be Xavier’s head.
“Great meal,” Xavier said eventually, loosening his tie, his cheeks flushed from the wine.
“Thank you.” Ivy beamed with satisfaction. “I wasn’t sure what you might like.”