A Family Tradition

Anna set the package on the kitchen table and went back to the nearly-cooked scrambled eggs, stirring them with a spatula. She was happy today. She felt warm, cozy inside. Her little sister, Lucy, was home from college and had slept over. They’d stayed up too late, drank a bit too much wine, a really good cab, and laughed more than she could ever remember. Today they had the whole day together to shop, see a movie, whatever. Then tonight, Lucy would meet Steven.

Anna Davis and Steve Emmerson had met only six months ago, but she felt like she’d known him all her life. The day he walked into her family’s restaurant in the Village was the last day thoughts of any other man ever danced in her mind. He must have felt the same way, because he came back for lunch every day for two weeks. When he finally asked her out, she’d been so excited that she almost forgot to say ‘yes.’ Now, with the wedding only a few months away, she felt like she was living a fairy tale with her happily-ever-after almost within her grasp.

Spooning steaming eggs onto plates beside thick slices of bacon she called to her sister. “Lucy. Breakfast.” She deposited a pair of plates on each side of the wooden kitchen table, set a paper napkin and fork beside each, and filled two mugs with fresh coffee. She was about to call again when Lucy shuffled sleepy-eyed into the kitchen, still wearing her orange Houston Astros sleep shirt.

“Aw. You made eggs and bacon. Oh, and coffee. You are a saint,” said Lucy. She curled her fingers around the nearest mug and slipped into a chair, bringing the brew to her lips as she sat. She sipped and looked over the rim of the mug at Anna, who took the chair opposite her.

“Saint might be a little overstated, but not by much,” Anna smirked.

“What’s with the package?” Lucy asked, tipping her mug toward the box between them.

Rectangular, taller than wide, and a little larger than a box of tissues, the package was wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. No name. No address. Just plain brown paper.

“Something Steven had sent over. He said he needed me to hold on to it for him, and he left strict instructions not to open it,” said Anna, emphasizing the last part, knowing Lucy’s legendary propensity for nosiness.

Lucy lowered her mug, eyes fixed on the brown package. “Who wraps a package in paper anymore? That’s weird. Wonder what’s in it. Aren’t you curious?”

Anna bit into a slice of bacon and answered between chews, “Of course. Who wouldn’t be? But he’ll tell me if he wants me to know.”

“Hmm,” Lucy grunted in a “but I need to know now” tone.

Anna let it go. For a few minutes, the sisters ate in silence, but Anna could almost hear the gears turning inside Lucy’s head.

Lucy pushed some egg around her plate, building her nerve before breaking the quiet. She tilted her head like a puppy hearing a whistle and as innocently as possible asked, “So, just how much money does he have?”

Anna took her time swallowing before she answered. She looked out the window of the second-floor apartment and saw a squirrel scurry up the huge oak at the edge of the parking lot. She didn’t like talking about Steven’s money. Besides being no one’s business, Steven’s money didn’t define him, and it wasn’t why she loved him. She hated the ‘poor waitress bewitching a wealthy bachelor’ trope. It made her feel cheap even though it wasn’t true at all. It was a sore spot for her.

“We don’t really talk about it,” she answered.

“Oh, come on. Give me something.”

“I don’t have a number or anything.” Anna snapped and immediately felt bad for it. She decided to give Lucy some grace. “It’s old money. His great-grandfather apparently was a real estate genius, and he passed along the wealth and know-how to his sons. One day, in the not-too-distant future, Steven will take his turn running the company.” To her surprise, Anna was enjoying this now, feeling an inkling of pride over Steven and his family.

Lucy blew out a frustrated breath. “Yeah, but how much?”

“Tons. Absolute tons of money,” Anna giggled. “And that’s all I’ll say about it.”

Lucy thought as she sipped coffee. “Money like that, growing up with it, I mean, it’s part of who you are. I wonder…” she said, leaving the word hanging all alone in the dead air.

The pause grew uncomfortable, and Anna set her coffee on the table.

“Wonder what?” she asked.

Lucy paused for effect, enjoying having the upper hand with an interchange with her sister. She locked eyes with Anna before continuing. “I wonder which he loves more; you or the family’s money.”

Anna burst out laughing. “That’s ridiculous,” she snorted.

A second later Lucy smiled and exploded with laughter. “Of course, it is. Now let’s have a look at this package.”

“Oh, no you don’t,” Anna said, snatching the box from the table. “Steven said not to open it. Put it out of your mind, Lucy.”

“Aw, just a little peek. We’ll wrap it right back up.”

“No Lucy. I’m going to get dressed. You should do the same. The city is ours to do with as we please. Let’s make the most of the day.”

Anna walked toward her bedroom, carefully placing the package on the coffee table on her way through the living room, then said over her shoulder, “Leave the dishes. I’ll get them later.”

Lucy sat until she heard Anna’s bedroom door close, then went into the living room. Like an arsonist watching a fire, she stood staring at the package. “What are you hiding from my sister, Steven Emmerson?” she said under her breath. “If Anna won’t find out, I will for her own good.”

She grabbed the package, untied the string, and let the paper fall away, revealing an elegant box. Its blue paint glistened with a metallic tint and looked, not surprisingly, very expensive. Carefully, she set the box on the table and seated herself on the sofa. A moment later she lifted the lid. That’s when an alarm inside the box went off.

Startled, Lucy dropped the lid onto the table, unsure of what was happening. Anna, having changed into jeans and a sweatshirt, came running. She saw the open box and realized it was the source of the wailing alarm. Peering inside she saw an iPhone, picked it up, and silenced the alarm.

“What have you done, Lucy?” Anna fought not to yell.

Lucy’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I had to know what he was hiding from you.”

Anna’s rolled her eyes, annoyed.

The phone buzzed with an incoming text. It was from Steven and read, “Stay there. We’re on our way.”

Anna placed the phone back inside the box. What was happening? She felt like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole. She was startled a moment later by a knock at the door. She and Lucy went to answer it together. Steven and his parents stood outside. They looked upset.

“May we come in?” Steven asked.

“What’s going on Steven?” Shock was quickly becoming irritation for Anna.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” said Steven’s mother, and the trio pushed inside.

Anna shut the door behind them. “Please. Someone tell me what’s going on.”

It was Steven’s father, Lars Emmerson, who spoke this time. “The box, young lady, has been opened. You had strict instructions not to open the package.”

“You’re here because the package was opened? Why?” asked Anna, confused.

“That’s correct. The package was a test, and you failed it,” answered Steven’s mother, Ingrid.

Steven pushed in front of his parents and faced Anna, taking both her hands in his. “Anna, it’s a stupid family tradition.”

“It is not stupid,” said Lars. “The son’s fiancée must pass a test. She is to be given a mysterious package and told not to open it. It’s meant to prove the woman’s loyalty.”

“It proves nothing,” Steven snapped.

“It proves she cannot be trusted with even the smallest of matters. It proves she is unworthy of marrying an Emmerson,” said Ingrid.

“What? Unworthy?” began Anna. This was all too much, too crazy, like a curse from a storybook. “Steven?”

Steven looked deep into Anna’s emerald eyes and saw tears building. He touched her face. When he spoke, his voice came out dry and hoarse. “I no longer have the family’s blessing to marry you.”

Lucy couldn’t speak. She searched his face for a sign that this was some sort of cruel joke but saw only the crushing despair that she felt growing in her own heart.

“To sum it up, the wedding is off, and Steven can never see you again. That is if he wants to remain a part of this family,” said Steven’s father.

“If I don’t break off the engagement, and agree to never see you again, I’ll be cut off from the family, from everything. I’ll be homeless and penniless,” said Steven.

“I see,” said Anna. She straightened her back, stood taller.

“But,” began Lucy. Anna grabbed her arm and squeezed. Shhhh.

“Then, I guess this is goodbye,” said Anna. Her voice wavered. She blinked away tears, refusing to let them escape down her cheeks.

“Let’s go, son,” said Lars. Both parents turned to leave, but Steven didn’t move. He still stood facing Anna. “Son. It’s time to leave.”

“No father. I’ll stay. I’m marrying Anna.”

“You’ll be cut off, son. Don’t do this. She betrayed you.”

“I love her, father. I’ll willingly give up everything to spend my life with her. That is if she’ll still have me after I’ve allowed these shenanigans, and when I’m penniless.”

“Of course, I will,” whispered Anna.

Steven leaned closer and brushed his lips against hers.

Lars and Ingrid exchanged a long, knowing look.

“Let’s all sit. There’s much to explain,” said Ingrid.

Anna and Steven sat on the sofa with Lucy. Ingrid and Lars took the two club chairs across the coffee table from them.

“There’s something you should know, son,” began Ingrid. “This wasn’t a test for Anna. Who could resist opening that package? I know I didn’t.”

“You opened the package?” asked Lucy.

Ingrid ignored Lucy and continued, “This was actually a test for you, Steven.”

Steven’s father took over. “This was a test to determine if you were willing to forfeit everything for Anna, and you were. We, your mother and I, and more importantly you and Anna, had to know your heart. Would you choose Anna over riches and position?”

“You mean, I’m not cut off?” said Steven.

“No. You’re not cut off. Far from it.” said Lars. He dabbed his eyes with his monogrammed handkerchief.

“And don’t worry, Anna. No future Emmerson bride has ever passed the package test,” said Ingrid.

Lucy spoke up, “Um, Mrs. Emmerson, everyone. Anna didn’t open the package. I sort of did.”

For a moment no one spoke. Anna put her arm around Lucy and pulled her close.

“Well, Lucy,” said Ingrid. She paused, considering her words. “Thank you for your confession. That must have been difficult, but it only means that Anna is an extraordinary woman. Even more so than me.”

Lars laughed, “Yes. I suppose it does.” He continued to laugh until Ingrid and Lucy joined in. Anna and Steven were too busy kissing to be bothered.

And they lived happily ever after.