The Silver Linings Playbook Chapter 10

I Dont Know How This WorksAfter some more lifting in the basement, I correct on my trash bag and run my ten miles. Afterward, I shower, spray some of my begins cologne, and straits into the mist over in effect(p) like Mom taught me to do back in high school. I roll on some underarm deodorant and so don my new khakis and my Hank Baskett jersey.When I ask my bring forth how I sapidity, she says, Very throwsome. So handsome. But do you genuinely think you should wear your Eagles jersey to a dinner party party? You can wear cardinal of the Gap shirts I bought you, or you can borrow one of your fathers polo shirts.Its ok, I say, and smile confidently. Dr. Patel said wearing this shirt was a good idea.Did he? my mom says with a laugh, and then she re be actives an arrangement of flowers and a bottle of white wine from the refrigerator.Whats this?Give these to veronica and tell her I said thanks. Ronnies been a good friend to you. And then Mom looks like she is expiry to cry once again.I kiss her goodbye, and with my hands full of flowers and wine, I walk down the street and across Knights Park to Ronnies house.Ronnie answers the entry wearing a shirt and tie, which makes me notion like Dr. Patel was wrong after only and I am underdressed. But Ronnie looks at my new jersey, checks the name on the back be lyingvably to make sure I am not wearing an outdated Freddie Mitchell jersey and says, Hank Baskett is the man Where did you get that jersey this early in the season?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 feeding Emily, whom I am impress to see looking much older than a newborn plunder.Hank Basketts in the house, Ronnie says.Who? Veronica answers, alone she smiles when she sees the flowers and the wine. decant moi?She stares at my puffy cheek for a second, but doesnt mention it, which I appreciate. I hand her w hat my mother has sent, and Veronica kisses me on my un-puffy cheek.Welcome home, Pat, she says, which amazements me because she sounds sincere. I hope you dont mind, but Ive invited someone else to dinner, Veronica adds. She winks at me and then lifts the lid off the single pot on the stove, releasing a warm tomato and common 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, saying, collide with Uncle Pat, which sounds strange until I realize he is talking intimately me. Say hello to Uncle Pat, Emily.She waves her little hand at me, and then I endure Emily in my arms. Her dark eyes examine my face, and she smiles as though she approves. Pap, she says, pointing at my nose.See how smart my girl is, Uncle Pat, Ronnie says, petting the silky raw hair on Emilys head. She already knows your name.Emily smells like the mashed carrots that coat her cheeks until Ronnie wipes them cle an with a wet napkin. I have to admit that Emily is a ingenious kid, and I instantly understand why Ronnie has written me so many letters about his lady friend why he loves her so much. I start to think about having children with Nikki someday and I suit 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 re completelyy supposed to drink, because Im on medications and Beer, Ronnie says, and then we are 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, just before clinking his Yuengling lager bottle against mine.Whos coming over for dinner?Veronicas sister, botherany.Tiffany and Tommy? I say, remembering Tiffanys hubby from Ronnie and Veronicas wedding.Just Tiffany.Wheres Tommy?Ronnie takes a colossal swig of his beer , looks up at the setting sun, and says, Tommy died some conviction ago.What? I say, because I hadnt light upond. 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 suddenly she is standing with us on the porch. Tiffanys wearing a black evening dress, heels, and a diamond necklace, and her make-up and hair look too perfect to me as if she is trying too challenging to look attractive, like old ladies sometimes do. You remember Pat, just?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 alone on verso ends of the living-room couch as Veronica finishes cooking the meal and Ronnie puts Emily to bed.You look very pretty tonight, I say when the silence 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 returns, although Tiffany really does look pretty, even if she is trying too hard with the makeup. She is a few years older than me, but has a fit body and considerable, silky black hair.What happened to your cheek? Tiffany asks without looking at me.Weight-lifting accident.She just stares at her hands, which are folded in her lap. Her nails have been recently miscellaneous a blood red.So where are you working now? I say, thinking this is a salutary question.Her nose crinkles, as if I had farted. I got fired 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 for Ronnie to come back.Dinner is elegant, with candles going and fancy plates and special silverware, but awkward, as Tiffany an d I are completely silent while Veronica and Ronnie talk about us as if we arent there.Pat is a big history buff. He knows 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 advance(a) dancer 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 cautiously 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 in concert, Ronnie says. Look how fit my buddy is. He puts me to shame. I wishing 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 S eptember 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 almost fifteen minutes straight, and then finally 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 support that it was demolished years ago, just like my father said, which worries me tremendously because I have no remembering 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 picture 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 Ronnie had promised turn out to be beer, lasagna garnished with baked asparagus, and severalize lime pie. All three are great, and I tell Veronic a 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 utilise 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 disconsolate 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 lives.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 over 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 sum total 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 confused that Im speaking an d 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 still wearing her wedding ring.And then suddenly Tiffany is hugging me so that her face is surrounded by 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 straightlaced enough to give me a jersey with real stitchedon letters and numbers but I surprise myself by hugging Tiffan y back. I rest my chin on top of her shiny black hair, aromatise 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 contaminating 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.