The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 10

I Dont K at present How This WorksAfter well-nigh more lifting in the wine cellar, I put on my trash bag and barrage my ten miles. Afterward, I shower, spray some of my makes cologne, and walk into the mist fair(a) the kindreds of Mom taught me to do bottom in high school. I roll on some underarm deodorant and because dupe my new khakis and my Hank Baskett jersey.When I ask my mother how I manifestation, she ordinates, Very go bysome. So handsome. scarcely do you re onlyy think you should wear your Eagles jersey to a dinner party? You can wear one of the Gap shirts I bought you, or you can borrow one of your fathers polo shirts.Its okay, I say, and smile confidently. Dr. satinyel verbalise wearing this shirt was a intimately idea.Did he? my mom says with a laugh, and then she removes an arrangement of flowers and a store of white wine from the refrigerator.Whats this? get out these to veronica and tell her I said thanks. Ronnies been a good star to you. And then Mom hears kindred she is going to cry again.I embrace her goodbye, and with my hands full of flowers and wine, I walk down the street and crossways Knights Park to Ronnies house.Ronnie answers the door wearing a shirt and tie, which bring ons me finger like Dr. Patel was wrong after every last(predicate) and I am underdressed. But Ronnie looks at my new jersey, checks the name on the gumption probably to make for certain I am non wearing an outdated Fred clog up Mitchell jersey and says, Hank Baskett is the humans Where did you get that jersey this early in the season? Its great which makes me feel so much better.We follow the meaty aroma through their fashionable living room and their swanky dining room to the kitchen, where veronica is eating Emily, whom I am surprised to see looking for much honest-to-god than a newborn baby.Hank Basketts in the house, Ronnie says.Who? Veronica answers, but she smiles when she sees the flowers and the wine. Pour moi?She st atomic number 18s at my puffy cheek for a sec, but doesnt mention it, which I appreciate. I hand her what my mother has sent, and Veronica kisses me on my un-puffy cheek.Wel sire home, Pat, she says, which surprises me because she sounds sincere. I desire you dont mind, but Ive invited someone else to dinner, Veronica adds. She winks at me and then lifts the lid stumble the single pot on the stove, releasing a warm tomato and basil aroma.Who? I ask.Youll see, she says without looking up from stirring her sauce.Before I can say more, Ronnie is lifting Emily from her high chair, manifestation, Meet Uncle Pat, which sounds strange until I cod he is talking close to me. Say hello to Uncle Pat, Emily.She waves her little hand at me, and then I drive Emily in my arms. Her dark look examine my pillowcase, and she smiles as though she approves. Pap, she says, pointing at my nose.See how smart my female child is, Uncle Pat, Ronnie says, petting the silky black hair on Emilys head. She already cognises your name.Emily smells like the mashed carrots that coat her cheeks until Ronnie wipes them clean with a wet napkin. I have to intromit that Emily is a cute kid, and I instantly understand why Ronnie has compose me so many letters well-nigh his daughter why he loves her so much. I start to think about having children with Nikki someday and I become so happy that I give little Emily a kiss on the forehead, as if she were Nikkis baby and I was her father. And then I kiss Emilys forehead again and again, until she giggles.Beer? Ronnie says.Im not really supposed to make merry, because Im on medications and Beer, Ronnie says, and then we be drinking beers on his deck as Emily sits in her fathers lap and sucks on a bottle filled with watered-down apple juice.Its good to have a beer with you, Ronnie says, further before clinking his Yuengling Lager bottle against mine.Whos coming over for dinner?Veronicas sister, Tiffany.Tiffany and Tommy? I say, remembering Tiff anys husband from Ronnie and Veronicas wedding. equitable Tiffany.Wheres Tommy?Ronnie takes a coherent swig of his beer, looks up at the setting sun, and says, Tommy died some condemnation ago.What? I say, because I hadnt heard. God, Im sorry to hear that.Just make sure you dont bring up Tommy tonight, okay?Sure, I say, and then drink a few large gulps of my beer. So how did he die?How did who die? says a womans voice.Hi, Tiffany, Ronnie says, and abruptly she is standing with us on the porch. Tiffanys wearing a black evening dress, heels, and a rhombus necklace, and her make-up and hair look too perfect to me as if she is trying too gravely to look attractive, like old ladies some whiles do. You remember Pat, right?I stand, and as we shake hands, the way Tiffany looks into my eyes makes me feel really funny.We move back into the house, and after some small talk, Tiffany and I are left completely on opposite ends of the living-room couch as Veronica finishes homework the me al and Ronnie puts Emily to bed.You look very pretty tonight, I say when the subdue grows awkward.Before apart time began, I never ever complimented Nikki on her looks, and I think this really hurt her self-esteem. I figure I can now practice complimenting women on their looks so it will come naturally to me when Nikki re identification rime, although Tiffany really does look pretty, even if she is trying too hard with the makeup. She is a few days older than me, but has a accommodate body and long, silky black hair.What happened to your cheek? Tiffany asks without looking at me.Weight-lifting accident.She just watchs at her hands, which are folded in her lap. Her nails have been recently painted a blood red.So where are you working now? I say, idea this is a safe distrust.Her nose crinkles, as if I had farted. I got blast from my job a few months ago.Why?Does it really matter? she says, then stands and walks into the kitchen.I down the remainder of my second beer and wait f or Ronnie to come back.dinner party is elegant, with candles going and fancy plates and special silverware, but awkward, as Tiffany and I are completely silent while Veronica and Ronnie talk about us as if we arent there.Pat is a big history buff. He drive ins everything about every single U.S. president. Go ahead. Ask him anything, Ronnie says.When Tiffany fails to look up from her food, Veronica says, My sister is a modern dancingr and has a recital in two months. You should see her dance, Pat. So beautiful. My God, I wish I could dance like my sister. If she allows us this year, were all going to her recital, and you should definitely come with us.I nod carefully when Tiffany looks up for my response, thinking Ill go just so I can practice being kind. Also, Nikki would probably want to go to a dance recital, and I want to do the things Nikki likes from now on.Pat and I are going to work out together, Ronnie says. Look how depart my buddy is. He puts me to shame. I need to get in that basement with you, Pat.Tiffany loves the shore, dont you, Tiff? The four of us should take Emily to the beach one weekend in September after the crowds have left. We could have a picnic. Do you like picnics, Pat? Tiffany loves picnics. Dont you, Tiff?Ronnie and Veronica trade facts about their guests for or so fifteen minutes straight, and then in conclusion theres a lull, so I ask if any of them knows anything about the Vet being imploded, and to my surprise Ronnie and Veronica both confirm that it was demolished years ago, just like my father said, which worries me tremendously because I have no memory of this or the years that have supposedly transpired since. I think about asking how long ago Emily was born, because I remember getting a letter and word-painting from Ronnie soon after her birth, but I get scared and do not ask.I hate football, Tiffany offers. More than anything in the world.And then we all eat without saying anything for a while.The three courses Ronni e had promised turn out to be beer, lasagna garnished with baked asparagus, and key lime pie. All three are great, and I tell Veronica as much practicing again for when Nikki comes back to which Veronica replies, Did you think my food would be bad?I know she means it as a joke, but Nikki would have used the question to prove just how witchy Veronica can be. I think about how if Nikki were here, after we went home, wed stay up talking in bed like we used to when we were both a little drunk and sitting now at Ronnies dinner table, the thought makes me feel sad and happy at the same time.When we finish our pie, Tiffany stands and says, Im tired.But weve hardly finished eating, Veronica says, and we have Trivial Pursuit to I said Im tired.There is a silence.Well, Tiffany finally says, are you going to walk me home or what?It takes me a second to realize that Tiffany is talking to me, but I quickly say, Sure.Since I am practicing being kind now, what else could I have said right?It is a warm night, but not too sticky. Tiffany and I walk a block before I ask where she stick ups.With my parents, okay? she says without looking at me.Oh. I realize we are only about four blocks from Mr. and Mrs. Websters house.You live with your parents too, right?Yeah.So no big whoop.It is dark, and I guess its about 930 p.m. With her arms crossing her chest, Tiffany walks pretty quickly in her clicky heels, and soon we are standing in front of her parents house.When she turns to face me, I think she is simply going to say good night, but she says, Look, I havent dated since college, so I dont know how this works.How what works?Ive seen the way youve been looking at me. Dont bullshit me, Pat. I live in the addition around back, which is completely separate from the house, so theres no chance of my parents walking in on us. I hate the fact that you wore a football jersey to dinner, but you can fuck me as long as we turn the lights out first. Okay?Im too shocked to speak, and for a long time we just stand there.Or not, Tiffany adds just before she starts crying.Im so muzzy that Im speaking and thinking and worrying all at the same time, not really knowing what to do or say. Look, I enjoyed spending time with you, and I think youre really pretty, but Im married, I say, and lift up my wedding ring as proof.So am I, she says, and holds up the diamond on her left hand.I remember what Ronnie told me about her husband having passed away, which makes her a widow and not married, but I do not say anything about that, because I am practicing being kind instead of right, which I learned in therapy and Nikki will like.It makes me really sad to see that Tiffany is tacit wearing her wedding ring.And then suddenly Tiffany is hugging me so that her face is between my pecs, and shes crying her makeup onto my new Hank Baskett jersey. I dont like to be touched by anyone except Nikki, and I really do not want Tiffany to get makeup on the jersey my brother was slender enough to give me a jersey with real stitchedon letters and numbers but I surprise myself by hugging Tiffany back. I counterpoise my chin on top of her shiny black hair, scent her perfume, and suddenly I am crying too, which scares me a lot. Our bodies shudder together, and we are all waterworks. We cry together for at least ten minutes, and then she lets go and runs around to the back of her parents house.When I arrive home, my father is watching television. The Eagles are playing the Jets in a preseason game I did not know was on. He does not even look at me, probably because I am such a lousy Eagles fan now. My mother tells me that Ronnie called, saying its important and I should call him back immediately.What happened? Whats on your jersey? Is that makeup? my mother asks, and when I do not answer, she says, You better call Ronnie back.But I only lie down in my bed and stare at the ceiling of my bedroom until the sun comes up.