#Chapter Twenty-One
"Why two days before my birthday though?" Kitty asked. "Why not on the day itself?"
"Because your birthday is on a Tuesday, and I don't want you to skip school, of course," Barry said. "You should already know this."
Ugh.
"It's not that bad to skip," Kitty said. She already knew what he was going to say - you know that's not right, Kitty.
"You know that's not right, Kitty," Barry said.
Lord, save her.
"Where are we going?" Kitty asked.
"We're going to the finest restaurant in town," Barry said. "We're going to have a fun time, believe me."
When they reached, Kitty could only gasp in awe at the splendour of the decorations. The ceiling was several storeys high and the entirety of it was covered in hanging crystal chandeliers. She was led to her seat and soon, Barry ordered for both of them.
"Good evening, Barry Abernathy," someone said and Kitty turned to the person. It was a middle-aged woman who settled down onto the third seat at the table.
"Who are you? The table is taken," Kitty explained to the lady.
"She's supposed to be here, Kitty," Barry said to her. "I invited her."
"Why?" Kitty asked, though she was dreading the answer.
"You may begin," Barry told the middle-aged woman.
"I will teach you etiquette from now on, Kitty," the lady said to her. "Put both your shoulders firmly against the rest of the chair."
Kitty stared between Barry and him. Barry flashed her a serious look. "Kitty, do what she said."
"Okay," Kitty said finally and followed every direction the lady gave her. After the food came, she made several comments about how she was picking up the food with her fork, how she was sipping from her cup, and how she was chewing her food. She wanted to tear her hair out. Not her own, the lady's hair. Then maybe her own afterwards.
"Wonderful job, Kitty," the lady told her.
"It's harder than it looks," she replied.
"You're not that bad," the lady laughed, implying that she was bad after all. That, however, was lost on her. And she taught etiquette.
"You'll be a fine Abernathy one day, Kitty," Barry told her and beckoned a waiter over. The waiter stopped beside him. "Bring the birthday cake out."
After a few minutes, the entire restaurant dimmed their lights and out came a procession of waiters and waitresses holding an enormous cake to put on their table. She stared at the ground in shame, hoping it would swallow her whole.
"Go on, make a wish, Kitty," Barry said with a proud look on his face.
I wish you would drown in your luxury jacuzzi. You celebrated my birthday by choosing a day you preferred, bringing me to a restaurant you chose, forcing me to sit through an etiquette lesson you planned that I didn't want so I could become the perfect wife you are forcing me to be and then you made me eat food that I didn't order and now I have to watch every other person in this restaurant sending me patronising looks of jealousy because of that birthday cake stunt you did. I can't believe I said yes to your proposal. I wish I were with Gunner!
"I wish our marriage would last forever," she said, beaming before she blew the candles out.
"Silly girl," Barry said. "Why wouldn't it?"
"I didn't know what else to say," Kitty laughed.
"Trust me, Kitty. You won't be able to get rid of me. We'll be spending eternity together."