you,” I said and was just about to reach my hand out to shake his when Issy’s father and Anna returned to the table. Anna had obviously been crying and was still carrying her tissue. Issy’s dad looked more irritated than ever, but quietly served up his plate. The silence went on for what felt like hours, and then suddenly the focus was on me, the one neutral ground in the room.
Soon came the onslaught of questions about my school and classes, where I was from and how I liked Winsor. I was really starting to hate talking about myself and felt like I had been on two exhausting interviews today.
I attempted to change the subject by asking Issy’s dad if he enjoyed Winsor when he went there. He seemed genuinely happy to talk about his experience until Issy piped in about how much her mom also loved the school, even though she sacrificed her education to raise her daughter on her own.
The room was silent again until Rosa brought in the desert and refilled the wine. I was careful this time not to drink too much, but did notice that Issy was working on her third glass.
“So, are you two heading back to school tomorrow?” Issy’s dad asked.
“Yes sir, I’ve got to get back. I’m not sure about Issy.”
“Nope, its Black Friday. My favorite shopping day of the year.” Issy suddenly came to life as if she got the escape route she had been waiting for all evening. “In fact, Daddy, I promised Mom I’d be ready before the sun comes up, so I better make sure I get home in time to get a good night’s rest.” She already had her napkin on the table and was standing up.
“But you just got here. I thought we could take a walk by the lake. I was really hoping to talk to you.” He seeming genuinely disappointed that she was leaving.
“Next time, Daddy, I promise.” She walked over, kissed him on the cheek and left. I excused myself, thanking them again for a lovely dinner and followed her out of the room. Never in my life had I experienced anything like this day. I had sat down for two Thanksgiving dinners and was leaving hungrier than before either of them. How anyone could eat under that kind of strain was beyond me.
Grant was standing near the foyer as we headed to the front door. He was watching Issy closely and I saw her immediately tense as he smoothly asked, “Running away already?”
Her eyes became like daggers as she hissed, “Go to hell!”
Seconds later, she was practically running out the door to my car. I watched as she stood with her hands on the roof for just a second and then turned around, her face completely blank. “Let’s go! I’m dying to get this party started!”
I got in the car, but refused to turn on the ignition. “Issy, you were deplorable in there…to everyone. I’ve never been so uncomfortable in my life.” I didn’t mean to lecture, but I was really upset.
She sighed and put her head in her hands. “I know. I’m sorry.”
I didn’t know what to say, didn’t know how to even begin to be there for her. I drove out the gate and waited for Issy to point me in the right direction.
Ben lived only five houses down, but it was a mile down the road. His gate was open, and we could hear music through the car windows before we even got to the house. The music snapped her out of her daze and Issy looked up with a huge grin.
“Please don’t be mad at me,” she begged, wanting me to smile too. “I promise first thing tomorrow, I’ll call my dad and apologize, ok? Besides, you get to meet all my old friends tonight, and I really want you to have a good time.”
I couldn’t resist smiling as I watched her animated apology. I had to admit, it felt good to get out of the stuffiness of Issy’s world and see something that felt more like Winsor.
We got out of the car, and Issy made me take off my sweater even though it was easily forty degrees outside. A few steps later and we were entering the second biggest house I’d ever seen in my life. Issy was right, I was starting to become numb to the extravagance and just noticed the mass of people that covered the place.
There were makeshift bars set up in three