We Became Strangers

My mom froze before turning to face me, Yvonne Gunther.

"Why are you suddenly asking?" She lowered her voice. "Seeing everyone else in love finally made you jealous?

"You always said you didn't want me setting you up, so I never brought it up." Taking my hand excitedly, she continued, "Your fiance was supposed to be Mrs. Jackson's son. Their family moved overseas years ago, but she's kept in touch with me all this time–"

"Oh my, Sylvia, you're introducing someone to Yvonne already?"

My mom's voice had risen just enough for Tina Mayford's mother to overhear, and she laughed.

"Come to think of it, our three families are so close. If Yvonne hadn't been born a month later, who knows who would've gotten engaged instead?"

"Everyone has their own destiny," Samuel Stanton's mother said gently. "Sylvia, whose son were you just talking about–"

"She won't date anyone."

Before Samuel's mother could finish her sentence, Samuel interrupted.

He looked down and remained focused on cutting through the roasted turkey. He never even glanced at me.

Yet his words were resolute.

"How would you know? Yvonne is beautiful and thoughtful. Why wouldn't she date someone?" His mother asked.

Samuel finally glanced at me.

Then he smiled.

"She's too demure. She'd never take the initiative to get close to another guy."

No one noticed what was wrong with those words.

I gripped my fork so tightly that my knuckles turned white.

Yes. I was demure, obedient, and considerate.

That was why I had willingly lived inside his lie for four whole years.

"I might not have before, but I think I'd like to give it a try now," I said while smiling at everyone.

"If any of you know someone suitable, please feel free to introduce me to them."

Clink!

Samuel suddenly knocked over a glass. The crisp sound echoed across the room.

No one paid him any attention. All eyes were on me.

Several enthusiastic relatives immediately began chatting with me. Some of them even pulled out their phones and were ready to recommend eligible bachelors by sending me their Instagram profiles.

I accepted every offer.

"Yvonne, stop fooling around." Tina glanced at Samuel, whose expression had darkened, before signaling frantically at me. "With your personality, how could you go on blind dates–"

"Leave her alone." Samuel placed more roasted turkey onto Tina's plate. His voice was neither too loud nor too soft. "Go ahead and eat."

"Samuel, what about Yvonne? Give her some too." His mother nudged him.

Without looking up, Samuel reached over and placed a pecan pie on my plate.

He then sat back down and began picking the overcooked pieces of turkey out of Tina's plate.

The table suddenly fell much quieter.

Samuel's mother sighed, put down her fork, and looked at him sternly.

"What's gotten into you today? You've been distracted the entire meal.

"You remember Tina doesn't eat overcooked meat, but you've forgotten that Yvonne is allergic to pecan nuts and never eats pecan pies?"

Samuel froze.

Someone nearby quickly tried to smooth things over.

"That's right, Samuel. We know you're devoted to your girlfriend, but Yvonne's practically like your little sister too. You can't play favorites like that!"

She was the girlfriend. I was the little sister.

Amid the cheerful laughter around the table, every breath I took felt like a knife scraping against my throat.

"It's fine. I can cut the turkey myself."

I reached out and never looked in Samuel's direction again.

Only after dinner, when the three families were saying their goodbyes outside, did Samuel finally come over.

"W-What was that supposed to mean?"

Standing behind me with his arms crossed, he frowned.

"Why would you say something like that? Do you realize how many blind dates they'll arrange for you? Do you really want to be bothered by–"

"I meant exactly what I said."

I looked up and cut him off with a calm smile.

"I wasn't joking, and I don't think it'll bother me.

"Because I want a boyfriend who I won't have to hide. One I can love openly.

"A real boyfriend."