Five Years and Still Second Best

Tonight the cat gets grilled chicken breast and shrimp.

This is the last time I'll ask Austin to peel shrimp.

He refused again.

He won't peel shrimp for me, and he won't peel it for Snowball.

He only peels shrimp for Skylar.

Fine.

My phone buzzed. A message from Dad.

"Nori, I know you don't want to move abroad for good."

"But coming to stay for a while is fine, isn't it?"

I sent back one word. Okay.

He booked me a flight a week out before I could blink, with a sticker attached.

【Daddy's precious girl is coming.jpg】

I stared at the goofy cartoon, squeezed my eyes shut, and pressed down the heat building behind them.

A week. That was enough.

Austin didn't come home all night.

The next morning, when I woke up, he was already in the kitchen cooking.

Mrs. James was over too.

She was helping out, the two of them murmuring with their heads close together.

"The Sullivan girl's parents are divorced. She seems all right now, but a child from that kind of home is bound to have something off inside. No telling how she'll turn out."

"Now Skylar, that poor thing. Her parents didn't get along either, but she grew up right under my eyes. Kind, sweet, good with people. Good through and through."

Mrs. James sighed with real regret.

"Such a shame the two of you weren't meant to be."

Skylar was the daughter-in-law she'd wanted all along.

Austin brushed it off.

"Enough, Mom. Sky's about to get married."

He didn't say a word for me.

I didn't interrupt them. I went to the living room.

Mrs. James heard me and leaned out to look.

"Oh, you're up, Nora. We'll eat soon."

"There's fruit on the table. Have some first."

On the coffee table, apple slices soaking in salt water had been cut into little rabbit shapes.

The kind Skylar liked.

Mrs. James beamed.

"I had Austin make a few extra dishes you like."

I smiled back at her.

Five years together, and Austin had never once cooked for me.

There were only three things that ever got him into the kitchen.

Skylar coming home. Skylar's birthday. Skylar dropping by for a meal.

Right on cue.

Half an hour later the food was ready, the doorbell rang, and Skylar walked in.

Mrs. James lit up at the sight of her.

"Skylar's finally back. I've missed you to pieces."

"I missed you too, Mrs. James."

Skylar looped her arm through Mrs. James's, the two of them all laughter and chatter.

Austin couldn't stop smiling, loading their plates one bite after another.

I shrank into the corner like a patch of air.

I poked at the plain white rice, eyes down, with nowhere to start.

A whole table of spicy dishes. Skylar lives for spice.

I'm allergic to chili. Austin forgot.

The meal had no taste at all.

Skylar chirped away, a happy little sparrow.

"Mrs. James, I booked us two facials this afternoon. Come with me. I've got so much to tell you."

Mrs. James's face split into a grin.

Austin nodded along.

"Go on. I'll drive you both over."

Austin runs on low energy. He hates going anywhere.

Even for our honeymoon, I'd wanted to go to Switzerland.

He shot it down flat.

"Too much hassle. We'll just drive around somewhere nearby."

But the moment Skylar asks, Austin's at her beck and call, ready whenever she wants.

Skylar suddenly cut a glance my way.

"Nora, are you coming?"

The warmth that had filled the room a second ago cooled a few degrees.

Skylar had booked two facials, and now she was asking if I'd come.

I was about to shake my head when Austin spoke first.

"She's not coming. She just likes staying home."

I looked at Austin and said nothing.

So that's what he thinks. That I like staying home.

Before they left, Austin gave his usual parting reminders.