The Day He Came Back

“Next time, don’t bother coming to work if you don’t have appropriate attire,” she bit out.

For some reason, I found her attitude tonight particularly jarring, especially since I’d already been so worried. I felt like I was going to piss myself.

“I’m sorry. I figured you’d rather have me here than cancel. I—”

“I don’t have time for this. Our guests are arriving. Go to your post at the door.”

Her words felt like a punch to the gut. I liked to think I had thick skin. But she had managed to break through it tonight.

As I walked over to the front door, tears started to build in my eyes. I was so angry at myself for letting this happen. Deep down, I knew this was about more than what she’d just said to me. I had feelings for her son. To know she despised me so much and would stop at nothing to ensure I never had a chance with him made me feel so defeated. Hate was such a strong word. But I couldn’t think of another way to describe my feelings toward that woman.

Faking smile after smile, I felt like I was going to explode as I greeted guests and took their jackets to the coat closet. Everyone was dressed up. You’d think my dress would have helped me fit right in, but Ruth much preferred that I look like the slave she thought I was.

Gavin’s voice startled me. “Am I dreaming? Look at you.”

Hearing him say that only made me feel worse.

He wore a black, collared shirt that hugged his muscles. He smelled so good and looked amazing.

“Go away, Gavin. I’m already in enough trouble as it is.” Tears stung my eyes.

His face fell. “What are you talking about? What’s going on?”

Whispering, I said, “Your mother scolded me for showing up in a dress tonight. My pants got ruined with mud as I was getting in the car to come here. I tried to explain that to her, but she told me I should’ve stayed home if I didn’t have a uniform.”

Gavin’s face turned red. “I have to talk to her.” He let out a long breath. “I can’t just stand by and do nothing while she treats you like—”

“No!” I looked over my shoulder. “You’ll make it worse. Please don’t say anything. I shouldn’t have even told you. Just go.” When he lingered, I insisted, “Please.”

I walked away before he could say anything further.

When it came time for dinner, I was still on edge, but my weakness from earlier had transformed into strength—and into anger. With the sadness gone, I picked myself up and served with a new attitude.

I could feel Gavin’s eyes on me the entire time. There were several girls our age attempting to flirt with him, trying to get him to make conversation, but he only had eyes for me.

The scowl on his face also told me he was still really angry. In fact, I’d never seen him so unwaveringly mad. I knew he wanted to confront her. But nothing good would come from it, and he knew it.

As Ruth glanced over at me, I could feel pride bursting from my body.

After I placed some carrots on the plate of the man sitting at the head of the table, he looked at me and said, “My eyesight is going. Perhaps these carrots will do me good.” He turned to his wife. “Don’t they say carrots are good for your eyes?”

When she didn’t respond, I couldn’t help but comment.

“Actually, while carrots do contain vitamin A, their benefits are partially a myth popularized during World War II. Pilots were using new technology to spot and shoot down enemy aircraft. In order to conceal this new radar, the military conjured up a rumor about the carrots the pilots ate—that they helped them see better at night. People to this day still give carrots more credit than they’re due.”

Staff was not to talk to guests. So I knew what I’d just done would put Ruth over the edge. Yet somehow, I couldn’t stop myself.

“That’s very interesting,” he said. “Thank you for clearing it up.”

Ruth’s eyes landed on mine. “Raven, please don’t insert yourself into our dinner conversation.”

Gavin’s hand slammed against the table, causing silverware to go flying. “Fuck, Mother!” he yelled through gritted teeth. “Enough!”

The crystals on the chandelier clanked together.

“Ruth…” Gunther murmured.

Gavin looked like he was about to flip the table over. He stood. Before he could do anything rash, I held my hand out to him, put down the dish I was holding, and straightened my posture.

I turned to Ruth. “Mrs. Masterson, I may not have a lot of money or come from a world you find suitable enough, but I do have self-respect. I would rather clean dog shit at the race track than continue to endure being looked at the way you look at me or spoken to the way you speak to me. So before you can terminate my employment, I am respectfully resigning, effective immediately. Thank you for the opportunity.”