The Affair

Chapter 22

Rebecca walked around the house, calling out to Mark, Ethan, and Kendra to get ready for Sunday dinner. She had been talking about starting a new tradition—Family Sunday Dinner—and had finally picked the perfect restaurant for their first one.

Mark didn’t argue, though the word family sat strangely in his chest. He wasn’t part of this family. Not yet, at least.

Kendra, as usual, took her time getting ready. Mark was standing by the door with Rebecca when he heard the familiar click of heels on the hardwood floor. He turned to see Kendra walking down the stairs—and his breath caught in his throat.

She wore a pair of fitted low-rise jeans that hugged every curve of her hips, paired with a black button-up top that was left open just enough to tease the soft swell of her breasts. Knee-high heeled boots clicked with every step she took, her long, wavy hair framing her face in a way that made her natural beauty even more striking. Unlike the heavily made-up look from the club, tonight she was effortlessly stunning, a kind of beauty that didn’t need embellishment.

Mark swallowed hard, forcing himself to look away before anyone could notice how intently he had been staring.

Rebecca beamed. “Look at you, Kenny! You look gorgeous.”

Kendra rolled her eyes but smirked. “Mom.”

Once everyone was ready, they piled into the car. Rebecca drove, Mark sat in the passenger seat, and Kendra and Ethan sat in the back.

It didn’t take long for Ethan to start his usual antics.

“Jesus, Ethan,” Kendra groaned as he poked at her side for the third time. “Stop it.”

Ethan, grinning, kept at it, nudging her with his elbow. “What? I’m just making sure you’re awake.”

Kendra shot him a death glare. “I swear to God—”

Before she could finish, Ethan smacked her lightly on the back of the head.

The reaction was immediate.

Kendra hauled off and punched him hard in the arm. Hard.

“I said f*****g stop!” she snapped.

Ethan winced but laughed through the pain.

Rebecca sighed but didn’t raise her voice. “Kids, stop fighting.”

Kendra huffed, turning to look out the window. “Ethan started it.”

Ethan grinned smugly. “Yeah, and now I’m finishing it.”

Then, without warning, he smacked Kendra in the back of the head again.

“OW, you little fucker!”

Kendra didn’t hesitate—she put Ethan in a chokehold, making him yelp.

“Kendra, watch your language,” Rebecca said with mild irritation. Then, as if the chaos in the backseat didn’t matter, she added, “Look, we’re here!”

Just like that, everything changed.

The second Kendra saw the restaurant, her body went stiff.

Even Ethan—who normally had no sense of self-preservation—suddenly stopped struggling, the teasing completely forgotten.

Mark noticed the shift instantly. Kendra wasn’t just unhappy—she was dreading this place.

His gaze flicked back to the restaurant, then back to Kendra.

Rebecca, still completely oblivious, parked and smiled. “Come on, let’s go!”

Mark noticed Kendra was still sitting in the car as Rebecca and Ethan started walking up to the restaurant.

He frowned, watching her grip the edges of the seat like she was physically holding herself back. Something was wrong.

Mark opened her door and leaned against the frame. “You alright?”

Kendra didn’t answer right away. Her jaw tightened, and he could see her fingers twitching against her thigh like she was struggling with something deep inside. Then, as if flipping a switch, her expression hardened, the walls going up before his eyes.

“Just f*****g peachy,” she muttered, getting out of the car and storming past him toward the restaurant.

Mark sighed, running a hand through his hair before following.

Inside, the restaurant was buzzing with energy. It was an authentic Mexican fusion spot—warm terracotta-colored walls, wrought-iron chandeliers hanging low, and traditional Mexican tile lining the floors. The scent of fresh tortillas, grilled meats, and rich spices filled the air, mixing with the lively strum of a mariachi band playing near the bar. The place had a rustic charm, dimly lit but full of life.

They were led to a booth near the back. Rebecca slid in beside Mark, Ethan—who, for once, seemed to understand the gravity of the situation—sat next to her. That left Kendra alone on the other side, a ticking time bomb.

They ordered their drinks.

Mark ordered a beer. Rebecca a glass of wine. Ethan a soda.

And Kendra?

“The strongest drink you have,” she told the waiter without hesitation.

Mark’s brow furrowed as he studied her, watching her grip the menu tightly. Rebecca smiled around the table, oblivious. “This place is nice, isn’t it?”

That was when Mark saw it—the sharp shift in Kendra’s expression. Her shoulders went stiff, her fingers clenching around the edge of the table. Her eyes darkened as they narrowed at Rebecca.

Their drinks arrived, and they placed their orders.

Kendra immediately slammed back her first drink and waved for another.

Rebecca frowned. “Honey, slow down. If you drink too much before eating, you’ll get sick.”

Kendra ignored her, reaching for her second glass the moment the waiter set it down.

Mark watched her closely, noticing the way her breaths were getting heavier, her grip on the glass turning white-knuckled. Something was boiling inside her, something dangerously close to spilling over.

Then their food arrived.

And Rebecca, unknowingly, set the fire ablaze.

Rebecca said something—something casual, meaningless in the grand scheme of things—but it made Kendra scoff bitterly.

“You really don’t remember this place, do you?”

Rebecca blinked, confused. “What?”

Kendra shook her head and, before Rebecca could say another word, she spoke—flawless Spanish rolling off her tongue like a sharp blade. It was a phrase filled with weight, something meant to spark a memory.

But Rebecca just stared at her blankly.

Kendra let out a cold laugh. “Don’t tell me you forgot how to speak Spanish too.”

Rebecca shifted uncomfortably. “I just… haven’t had the need to use it.”

That was it. That was the moment Kendra snapped.

Her eyes filled with unshed tears, her voice cracking just slightly as she whispered, “You’ve completely forgotten him, haven’t you?”

Rebecca’s face paled.

“Well, I haven’t.” Kendra’s voice was steel, the pain seeping through every syllable.

Then, before anyone could stop her, she shoved her chair back and stood abruptly.

“If you’re going to pick a place for a new ‘family dinner,’” she spat, venom dripping from her words, “maybe don’t pick Dad’s favorite f*****g restaurant.”

The weight of her words sank like a stone in the silence she left behind.

Her heels clicked against the tile as she stormed toward the exit.

Rebecca gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. For the first time, realization dawned in her eyes.

She had completely forgotten.

This was the place Robert had brought Kendra all the time when she was a kid.

This was their restaurant.

Their bonding time.

And Rebecca had erased it.

Mark sat in stunned silence, watching Kendra disappear through the restaurant doors.

Ethan busied himself with his food, keeping his head down, while Rebecca stared at the table in shock, her fingers trembling against the napkin in her lap.

Mark exhaled sharply and placed his hands on the table. “You really didn’t remember, did you?”

Rebecca slowly shook her head, eyes glassy. “I—I didn’t. I just picked a place that had good reviews. I wasn’t thinking…” Her voice cracked.

Ethan, still chewing, finally spoke up. “Yeah, well, she was.”

Mark shot him a look, and Ethan wisely shut up.

Rebecca wiped at her eyes and sniffled. “I should go talk to her.”

“No,” Mark said quickly, standing up. “Let me.”

Rebecca blinked up at him in surprise. “Are you sure?”

Mark nodded. “Yeah. Just… give her space for now.”

Rebecca hesitated but ultimately sighed and nodded.

Mark didn’t waste another second. He pushed himself away from the table and made his way outside.

He found Kendra around the corner of the restaurant, leaning against the stucco wall, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her chest rose and fell in deep, uneven breaths.

Mark slowed his steps, his boots crunching lightly against the gravel. “You okay?”

Kendra let out a hollow laugh, shaking her head. “What do you think?”

Mark leaned against the wall beside her, crossing his arms. “I think that was a lot to deal with in there.”

She scoffed, kicking a loose rock with the tip of her boot. “She forgot. She f*****g forgot. All those times Dad brought me here, all those stupid little traditions we had—she just erased them like they never even happened.”

Mark stayed quiet, letting her vent.

Kendra exhaled shakily. “I used to sit at the same table every time. Order the same food. Dad would speak to the waiters in Spanish, and I’d try to copy him, even though I sucked at it back then.” She let out a weak chuckle, her voice thick with emotion. “He used to say, ‘One day, mija, you’ll be able to say it better than me.’ And I did. I f*****g did.”

Mark swallowed the lump in his throat. He had never met Robert, but from the way Kendra spoke about him, it was clear he had been a damn good father.

Kendra shook her head, wiping under her eye. “And she just—she doesn’t even care.”

Mark sighed. “I don’t think she meant to hurt you.”

Kendra let out a bitter laugh. “That’s the problem. She doesn’t even think about him. It’s like she just flipped a switch when he died and moved on. And now she’s trying to shove this whole ‘new family’ bullshit down my throat like I’m supposed to be okay with it.”

Mark felt a twist in his gut. He wasn’t blind to the fact that he was part of that ‘new family’ equation, and right now, he was the last person she probably wanted to hear from. But he also couldn’t ignore the way she looked so small in this moment, like a wounded animal trying desperately not to let anyone see the pain.

Mark turned toward her slightly. “You don’t have to be okay with it.”

Kendra blinked up at him, surprised.

He shrugged. “No one’s expecting you to just accept everything overnight. And for what it’s worth, I don’t think your dad would want you to forget him either.”

Her eyes searched his for a long moment, something shifting behind them. Then, slowly, she exhaled, her shoulders relaxing just slightly.

Mark hesitated before reaching out, brushing his fingers lightly against her forearm. It was a small, fleeting touch, but the warmth lingered between them.

Kendra swallowed hard, then let out a deep breath. “Thanks.”

Mark nodded. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

Kendra arched a brow. “And go where?”

Mark smirked. “Wherever you want. Just not back in there.”

For the first time that night, a small, genuine smile played at Kendra’s lips. “Alright. Let’s go.”

And with that, they walked off together, leaving the past—and the tension of that restaurant—behind them.