My mother laid the engagement dinner on the long worktable, between the ledger and the good china.
She wanted the debt to watch me eat.
Bramwell: Sit down, Darcy. I like my purchases where I can see them.
He said it like a joke, but his small pale eyes did not blink.
Hazel: Sit. You're embarrassing the table.
I sat because my father's hands were shaking so hard his spoon rattled.
Duncan: It's a nice dinner, sweetheart.
Darcy: Is it? I thought it was a receipt with gravy.
Bramwell: This ring cost more than your father's shop.
He turned my hand over like a watch he was checking for scratches.
Bramwell: Say thank you, and we can start being honest with each other.
I tried to pull my hand back. His thumb dug into my wrist and pressed the veins flat.
Bramwell: Don't tug, sweetheart. You'll only hurt yourself.
The skin under his thumb went white, then red. I felt the bruise start.
Hazel: Stop acting like a bitch in front of the man who saved us.
Duncan: Hazel, please.
Hazel: Shut up, Duncan. You signed. She pays.
Bramwell: She's got spirit. That's fine. A wife should learn what her mouth is for.
Bramwell: By Sunday, she'll know.
Hazel: She will.
I looked at the champagne in front of me. The bubbles went up like little fuck yous.
The ring felt like a cold coin stuck to my skin.
For one second I thought about a man who once kissed me like I was a person, not a price.
I wanted that again. But first I had to stop being sold.
I stood up. My chair scraped hard enough to make Bramwell smile.
Darcy: I'd like to make a toast.
Hazel: Darcy. Sit down.
I pulled the ring off and dropped it in the champagne.
It sank through the bubbles like a small gold coffin.
Darcy: I am not for sale.
The table went so quiet I heard the ring hit the bottom of the glass.
Hazel: You stupid, ungrateful bitch.
Her palm hit my cheek so hard my teeth clicked. Her rings split my lip.
I touched my mouth. Blood came away on my fingers, bright and warm.
Darcy: I said no. Did you miss that part?
Hazel: You'll pay for this.
Bramwell: Your father's signature is still mine.
Bramwell: If you embarrass me again, I'll have a man break his fingers tonight. Then I'll have him charged by morning.
He said it pleasantly. I believed every word.
Duncan: Darcy, please. Just say sorry.
He looked at me with wet eyes and no spine, and I loved him and hated him in the same breath.
Hazel: Get out. You're done here.
My mother took my arm and marched me to the door. Her grip would leave marks too.
Hazel: You can come back when you're ready to be useful.
She shoved me onto the pavement and turned the key.
I stood on the dark street with my lip bleeding and my body shaking.
No ring. No shop. No family that would choose me.
But I had said no in front of all of them. That was mine.