Stenton smiled politely as he took the jersey from Jeffrey. “It’ll be my pleasure. And I’m sure Elizabeth here won’t be penalized if I take her to lunch. She’s been extremely gracious my entire time here. I’d like to thank her.”
I couldn’t help my gasp. What was Stenton doing?
Jeffrey’s pleading eyes shot over to me. I guess he didn’t want me to decline Stenton’s offer. “Su-sure! That’s perfectly fine. Please…enjoy, Ms. Barrett.”
As soon as Stenton was done being Stenton Rogers, we headed over to the restaurant. Once we were seated with menus, Stenton didn’t hesitate.
“So, what were you documenting in the gym?” He gave a reverse nod, gesturing where we’d just left.
“It’s called journaling, geek.” I rolled my eyes.
“Okay,” he muttered as he straightened in his seat. “May I ask what has you so affected that you’re journaling here?”
I fought with if I should share. The battle had a short life. Once I whispered the first word, the remainder came out spiritedly. I told him about my family’s obsolete beliefs and how it had caught up to my generation with Karen. I left Angela out of the conversation feeling she was too close to an associate of Stenton’s—or more like it was a sore topic. When I was done, I exhaled. I don’t know what I expected, but it felt odd when Stenton sat back in his chair and didn’t utter a word for a while.
I’d wondered if he’d paid attention until he asked, “What are your aspirations?”
W-what?
“Aspirations?”
“Yeah…” The waiter came to take our order, but Stenton raised his finger dismissing him and the uniformed man scurried off. “When we were at Sergue, you mentioned your goals and that they mirrored Angela’s.”
He remembers that?
“Oh…ummm.” I was floored. He had been listening. I wasn’t expecting that. “Well, to break this cycle of…societal norms in Christendom. The ultimate goal of a woman shouldn’t be marriage, having babies and making a home for her husband. I want to travel the world, explore the wonders of it. I want to find who Zoey is and why God put her here. I know my purpose supersedes the small box my family and church leaders try to put me and other young women in.”
“So, how are you going to prove it? What’s your plan?”
“First, to stay away from marriage long enough to find out if it’s even for me. Second, to finish undergrad, move on to Wharton for my MBA, and get a good job to help my family out. I want to provide relief for my parents, and that can’t happen if I’m in some man’s house, cooking, cleaning and making his babies.”
Stenton nodded meditatively. Maybe because I needed to make my voice heard, but for some reason, I felt like I’d connected with him.
“Let’s get you something to eat. You’ll need your energy to lead the next wave of the feminist movement.” He cracked a playful smile.
“I’m no feminist, Stenton!” I feigned being offended.
“Good, because if you were, I’d have to insist on you paying for this expensive ass meal we’re about to partake of.”
I laughed so hard that I snorted like a pig, unabashedly.
“Nah,” he attempted to sober up from our laughter. “I think you can do whatever you want, Zo. If you have plans to assist your family instead of pursuing what your family views as traditional goals, go for it.”
“I know I have to strategize better, but I at least know what I don’t want.”