Meet the family

The sound of cutlery echoed as everyone ate their food silently and sullenly. Adelyn placed the last dish on the table over an embroidered white place mat and then took her place by Ethan.

“I think you forgot the serving spoon” Edith Chambers pointed at the salad on the table,” Is this dish vegan at least?”

Tucking a loose strand of her long back hair behind her ear, Adelyn stood up,” yes, its vegan” her voice was subdued as she walked to the kitchen while Ethan passed a hard stare at his mother.

“It isn't polite to stare Ethan” Edith said, partially offended,” I have to double-check that the food aligns with our diets”

“Mom, cut it out please” He said with a tired tone that mirrored his face.

His father and brother chose to remain silent and instead focus on their food. They had played this game enough to know not to take sides in an argument that would never quell.

The house was dimly lit with the only light sources being concealed yellow ceiling lights. The Air conditioning was turned down to Edith’s- his mothers’- liking and the room was rather chilly.

The room itself wasn't gigantic as were the bedrooms, but it did have an antique touch to it with its antique carved wooden tables and chairs. The chairs were black while the decor was mostly white with black accents.

Had it been up to Adelyn, the table would be black as well, but the table was evidently an heirloom and couldn't be pushed away for modernity. This was the only part of their house that Adelyn was willing to compromise on.

Lucas, Ethan’ younger brother, looked up as Adelyn entered the room and placed the spoon in the bowl before seating herself at the table for what seemed to be the fourth time. He noticed her knotted eyebrows and the corner of his lip turned up in a partial smile. Olive skin, willowy frame, filled in all the right places ― dark, elusive eyes. long ink-black hair that fell below her hips, and a single, black freckle right where the curve of her lopsided little lips ended. The girl was stunning and with her cross little face, she looked nearly edible.

Lusting after one’s sister-in-law does not lie within the lace of human decency but Lucas chambers was not one to align himself with ethics and this was not an unknown feature of his personality.  He looked over at Ethan who was disinterestedly fiddling with the fish on his plate, his cheeks sunken and a ring of darkness enveloped his eyes. Ethan had seen better days that was for sure, the darker days of addiction had dimmed his attractiveness but for some unknown reason Adelyn was still with him which befuddled Lucas to no end.

“Did you talk to that new Literary agent I told you to talk to?” The elder Chamber, Mark, spoke up, breaking the thick silence of the room.

Ethan dabbed the corner of his lips with a handkerchief and shook his head, “I would have but I was busy… Tied up with something important.”

“Yes, you seem to have a lot of important things surrounding you that don’t involve you nowadays…” Edith remarked snidely.

“Mother, I have a life outside the realm of work” Ethan stated,” The least you can do is not comment on it”

“Oh, I apparently cannot say a word!!” Edith chastised him and shook her head as if he had said an unacceptable slur,” I do not know where you have picked up these manners from” she passed a look at Adelyn that the girl knew to be accusatory.

The Chambers had never taken a liking to her from the time she and Ethan began their courtships, this was especially true for Edith who simply despised the girl and left no opportunity to showcase it. Adelyn’s relationship with Ethan had become the talk of their town and with Ethan’ weaning addiction, they had garnered support from every part of the family and the town…. Except their parents.

Mrs. Edith had made up her mind that the girl was a conniving liar who was the sole reason for Ethan’ addiction to drugs; the fact that his addiction had begun years before meeting Adelyn barely affected her delusion.

Adelyn was also nearly ten years younger to her boyfriend and of Indian- British descent; these facts simply became weapons to use in Edith’s arsenal to use at her discretion.

The girl while fed up with the taunts, found it best to drone out all insults and instead focus on her career and her stress laden boyfriend.

It was a rare occurrence for the Elder Chambers’ to dine with Adelyn and Ethan, but Ethan had proposed and Adelyn had accepted. This acceptance came with the heavy cost that was his family which she bitterly swallowed. They had called this dinner for announcing the engagement  and although Adelyn did not share the enthusiasm that Ethan had, she knew that this was the proper thing to do.

“How is the addiction now son? Edith asked.

Ethan sighed softly while Adelyn placed her spoon down, knowing exactly where this was heading.

“The same one as always mother…I am in recovery,” Ethan replied, “why must you bring this topic up at dinner time?”

“Well, sorry for being concerned for my son” Edith replied, obviously offended, “ You have become very disrespectful Ethan, it is unbecoming of you. Why have you become this way?”

“Edith… “ Mark touched her arm trying to assuage the situation,” Just eat Love.”

“No Mark, He always disregards my concern for him… at least someone has to be concerned for him!” She exclaimed, her voice shrill and rather piercing.

“Mother!” he exclaimed and then breathed calmly as Adelyn placed a hand on his knee assuringly. Ethan looked at her for a second and then at his mothers’ obstinate face, “I have proposed to Adelyn and she has accepted. She is now my Fiance.” He said and the silence that greeted them was better than the remarks they had expected to hear. Lucas frowned slightly before smiling.

“Congratulations.” He said although with a hint of bitterness.

“yes, indeed. This is a joyous announcement.” The elder Mark smiled partially before turning to his wife, “Don’t you think dear?”

“It..it is an announcement indeed.” She nodded and looked at her son, “is it really necessary?”

Adelyn stood up and took her plates with her as she walked towards the kitchen silently not wanting to stay back for fear of saying something crass.

“Why must you always do this?” Ethan asked his mother in a whisper with his teeth grit.

“I am speaking only out of concern!” she said, her voice loud enough for Adelyn to hear.

“How delightful” Lucas rolled his eyes and stood up while Ethan stayed back to talk to his parents and try to make them make sense.

Lucas walked towards the kitchen, a direct contrast to the rest of the house, it was in shades of gray that resonated modernity, just like how Adelyn liked it.

“Are you okay?” he asked with a raised brow.

The girl was standing at the island table with her palms pressed firmly on the table, she looked up at Lucas, her lips turning into a lopsided smile.

“I am fine, thanks Lucas” she said, her accent always made his name sound pleasant to him.

“She is very abrasive, I know…” he said, standing behind her and placing a hand on her shoulders, “ You’re so tense… calm down”

Adelyn took a deep breath, relaxing her broad shoulders, she leaned her head back, a few centimeters away from his chest. A flowery fragrance penetrated his senses, was it roses or some other flower? Whatever it was, it was bewitching.

Far too soon, she leaned forward, and he was almost disappointed at the lack of her presence. To his surprise, she leaned forward, her palms on the cold marble slab again, this pushed her hips back into him momentarily before standing straight.

“I’m just tired Lucas” She said, turning towards where he had kept his plate. She tossed out the remnants of food, which seemed to occupy most of his plate and placed the dish in the sink,” How is the company? Ethan seems so tired this week?”

Lucas, barely recovering from the momentary contact he had, stuttered, “ Uh, I think that… he hasn't found the fault in his accounts yet and the accounts department has been vexing to say the least.”

Before she could reply, Ethan walked in with the cutlery and placed it beside the sink.

“I’m going to drop mother off… she says that… her stomach isn’t feeling so well” he said with a sigh. Adelyn bit her lip to stop from saying anything.

“Come soon and rest okay?” Adelyn cupped his face and kissed him before letting go with a smile.

The man nodded, seemingly brighter after seeing how affectionate she was, “Love you”

“Love you too… now go and come back soon.”

Lucas stood with a softly bitter smile on his face, “How touching,” he said with a fake smile as Ethan walked out,” I should leave as well. Congratulations on the uh, engagement by the way. I am sure that everyone at work would be happy to hear it. I won’t bug you more, goodnight pretty lady” he smiled and walked out after she bid him a goodnight.

Left alone in the kitchen, Adelyn called the maid in and told her to clean the kitchen up while she would go up to rest. Edith was always emotionally draining but on some days… some opportune days, she managed to be mentally draining as well.