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Chapter Twelv:Monthly Dinner

Chapter Fifteen: The Monthly Dinner

Ethan’s phone buzzed for the fourth time that morning.

Mom.

He stared at the screen for a moment before turning the phone face down on the kitchen island.

Across from him, Nora was reading through a stack of reports on her laptop. She had been sitting there for almost twenty minutes, occasionally scrolling, occasionally making notes.

The phone buzzed again, Nora glanced at Ethan.

“Why don’t you pick the call.”

“I will”

“Why don’t you answer now?”

“No, not now.”

Nora lifted an eyebrow. “That sounds like a very temporary decision.”

Ethan leaned back in his chair. “She’s been calling for about a week now.”

“Why don’t you answer and hear what she wants to tell you?

“I’m just not ready for her questions.”

The phone buzzed again.

Nora tried not to smile.

Ethan gave her a look. “Don’t.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were about to.”

“Yes but I didn’t do it”

“You were about to”

She closed her laptop.

“So what does she want?”

Maybe she wants to inform me about tonight’s dinner.”

Nora nodded slowly. “Family dinner?”

“Yes.”

“At the estate?”

“Yes.”

“And we're going?”

Ethan looked at her.

“You’re coming with me.”

“Of course I will. I’m your wife”

Yes exactly, you are my wife.

She studied him for a moment.

“They’re going to ask about the company and about us.

“Sure, they will, they definitely will.”

“And if they ask something I don’t know the answer to?”

“Answer however you want.”

Nora smiled faintly. “That sounds suspiciously like you’re giving me permission to embarrass your myself”

“I’m giving you permission to speak your mind, Nora.

“That’s different.”

No it’s not.

She picked up her laptop again,” Fine. I’ll come with you

Ethan nodded, You don’t have options.

Then his phone buzzed again.

This time he sighed and answered.

“Mom.”

Eleanor Blackwood’s voice came immediately.

“Finally.”

“I was working.”

“You've been working for weeks now, Ethan.

“That’s generally how having a company works.”

“Your father owns half a vineyard and spends most of his mornings fishing. He seems to manage.”

From somewhere in the background, a male voice called, “I heard that.”

Ethan closed his eyes.

His mother continued.

“Six o’clock tonight. You and Nora.”

“We’ll be there.”

“Good.”

“And Mom?”

“Yes?”

“We’re not staying.”

There was silence.

Ethan waited.

“No.”

“Mom—”

“You’ll stay tonight.”

“We have work tomorrow.”

“You have to work every day.”

“I have an early meeting.”

“Then have your meeting from the estate.”

Ethan rubbed his forehead.

“We have a perfectly good house, we are going home after the Dinner.

“No you are not. “

“Why?”

“Because I want to have conversations with your wife.

Ethan stared at the ceiling.

“Mom.”

“Ethan.”

He knew that tone.

It was the tone she used when she had already made the decision and was merely informing everyone else.

“We'll discuss it tonight.”

“No, we won't. I'm telling you now. You're staying.”

“Mom—”

“See you at six.”

The call ended.

Ethan slowly lowered the phone.

Nora was watching him.

“ are we staying”?

He looked at her.

“We are not”

She smiled.

“Your mother seems to disagree.”

“My mother has a habit of doing that.”

By five fifty-five that evening, Blackwood Estate was already crowded.

The driveway was lined with cars, and warm lights glowed through the tall windows of the enormous house. The monthly dinner was less a family meal and more a carefully disguised gathering of relatives, business associates, and people who seemed to know everything about everyone.

Ethan stepped out of the car and walked around to Nora’s side.

She adjusted her coat before looking up at the house.

“This is bigger than I expected.”

“It gets worse inside.”

“Worse?”

“More people.”

She laughed quietly.

They walked through the front doors.

The conversations in the foyer seemed to lower the moment they entered.

Nora noticed and so did Ethan.

But he simply ignored it.

His mother appeared at the top of the grand staircase.

Eleanor Blackwood was elegant as always, her silver hair neatly styled and a string of pearls resting against her dark dress.

But beside her stood Ethan’s father.

Henry Blackwood looked almost comically different from his wife.

His jacket was slightly rumpled, his tie was missing, and he had the relaxed expression of a man who had been dragged away from something far more enjoyable.

He spotted Ethan and immediately smiled.

“There he is.”

Ethan shook his head.

“Dad.”

Henry walked down the stairs and pulled his son into a brief hug.

“You survived another month.”

“Barely.”

“Good. Builds character.”

Eleanor gave her husband a disapproving look.

“You encourage him.”

He’s doing perfectly well.

“You encourage irresponsibility.”

Henry shrugged. “It works well for me.”

Ethan smiled despite himself.

Nora watched the exchange with amusement.

Henry turned toward her.

“And you must be Nora.”

Nora smiled. “I am.”

“Henry.”

Ethan definitely got his cheerful style from you, she complimented him.

Really?? I never noticed that, everyone thinks he’s just like his mother.

I think he got his serious look from her, she whispered.

Eleanor stepped forward.

“You must be Nora,” she said warmly, taking both of Nora’s hands.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Hope you heard good things about me,” Nora replied politely.

Eleanor laughed.

“I like you already.”

Henry looked between them.

“Oh, you're in trouble now.”

Eleanor ignored him.

“Come. I want you beside me at dinner.”

Ethan looked at his father.

Henry gave him an innocent shrug.

“Don't look at me. I stopped fighting your mother years ago.”

“You never fought her.”

“Exactly. That's why I'm still alive.”

Nora laughed.

Eleanor rolled her eyes.

“Dinner is ready.”

The table seated twenty-four people.

Nora found herself between Eleanor and Ethan, exactly where Eleanor had wanted her.

Across the table sat Lucas and Claire.

Lucas, twenty-seven, had the smug confidence of someone who had never had to wonder whether he belonged in a room.

Claire looked bored before the first course even arrived.

The conversation remained polite for the first few minutes.

Then Lucas lifted his glass.

“So, Ms. Carter.”

Nora looked up.

Lucas smiled.

“Carters Height. That’s the company that was almost auctioned off, right?”

Ethan’s jaw tightened.

Nora noticed.

Lucas continued.

“Must be nice to get a husband who saves you when things get difficult.”

Nora slowly placed her spoon beside her bowl.

“Carters Height was never sold, Lucas.”

His smile faltered slightly.

And that’s why he’s called my husband.

She gave him a pleasant smile.

“But thank you for your concern.”

A few people around the table suddenly became very interested in their plates.

Henry quietly took another sip of water.

Eleanor didn't even look at Lucas.

Claire decided to try.

“We only worry about Ethan.”

Nora turned toward her. What are you worried about,she asked?

Claire shrugged.

“Marriages like this can be complicated. Business, family, money... it’s a lot. Are you sure you’re not in over your head?”

Nora opened her mouth.

Eleanor spoke first.

“Claire.”

Her voice was soft.

Final.

“Nora is a guest in this house. She is also the CEO of a company that just became one of our biggest partners.”

Claire's face reddened.

“So perhaps,” Eleanor continued, “you should speak to her with the same respect you would expect for yourself.”

Claire looked down.

“Yes, Grandma.”

Henry leaned toward Ethan.

“Your mother has been waiting all evening to say that.”

Ethan murmured, “I know.”

Henry smiled.

“I like her.”

“You like everyone.”

“Not everyone.”

He glanced toward Lucas.

“Definitely not him.”

Ethan nearly laughed.

Across the table, Nora held part of the exchange.

She smiled.

The conversation gradually shifted toward business.

Two of Ethan’s aunts began asking Nora about Carter Height.

“We read about your new hires,” one said.

“How are you handling the expansion?”

“And are you planning to move into international markets?”

Nora answered each question calmly.

She didn't oversell herself, didn't pretend she knew everything, when she didn't have an answer, she simply said so.

By the time dessert arrived, even the relatives who had been skeptical about her were openly engaging her in conversation.

Eleanor was laughing at the discussion she was having with Nora.

Henry sat further down the table, barely interested in the business conversation.

At one point, someone asked him about a proposed company acquisition.

Henry waved a hand.

“Ask Ethan.”

“You're still a shareholder.”

“Unfortunately.”

Ethan looked at him.

“Unfortunately?”

Henry shrugged.

“I like owning things. I don't like managing them.”

“You could be involved.”

“I could also be on a boat.”

Eleanor sighed.

“You have no interest in your own family business.”

“I have an interest in my family.”

Henry smiled at her.

“The business could survive without me. You know that.”

Ethan watched his father for a moment.

There was no resentment in Henry's voice.

No jealousy.

He genuinely didn't care about the position everyone else seemed desperate to occupy.

He had money, freedom, and very little desire to control either.

“I spent half my life watching people fight over board seats,” Henry continued. “I decided a long time ago that I would rather spend my mornings fishing.”

“And you do,” Eleanor said.

“And I'm very good at it.”

“ You barely caught any fish last month. “

“ That’s not true, i caught four fishes.”

“One was already dead.”

Henry frowned.

“That is a technicality.”

Nora laughed.

For the first time that evening, Ethan felt completely relaxed.

His father leaned back in his chair.

“People spend too much time worrying about what they're going to leave behind.”

He looked at Ethan.

“Sometimes you should worry about what you're doing with the life you have now.”

Ethan held his father's gaze.

There was something about the simplicity of the statement that stayed with him.

By ten o'clock, most of the relatives had begun leaving.

Nora stood near the foyer while Eleanor walked her toward the entrance.

“My children lack manners,” Eleanor said quietly.

Nora smiled.

“You don't need to apologize. I've dealt with worse in boardrooms.”

Eleanor squeezed her hand.

“I like you.”

“Thank you.”

“I mean it.”

“I know.”

Eleanor hesitated before adding, “Stay tonight.”

Nora glanced toward Ethan.

Eleanor continued before he could speak.

“It’s late. I want to talk to you properly in the morning. No rushing. No meetings. No excuses.”

Ethan stepped forward.

“Mom, we're going home.”

Eleanor turned toward him.

“No, you're not.”

“Mom.”

“You're staying.”

“We have work.”

“So does everyone.”

“I have an early meeting.”

“Move it.”

“I can't.”

“Then take it from here.”

Ethan stared at her.

“You can't be serious.”

“I am.”

Henry appeared behind them, holding a glass of water.

He looked from Eleanor to Ethan.

“Oh, she's serious.”

Ethan looked at his father.

“Can you help me?”

Henry thought about it.

“No.”

“Dad.”

“I've learned something important over the years.”

“What?”

“Never stand between your mother and a decision she's already made.”

Eleanor smiled.

“Thank you, Henry.”

“I'm going to bed,” he said, turning away. “I have a boat to inspect in the morning.”

“You don't have a boat.”

Henry stopped.

“Then I'll have to buy one.”

Ethan shook his head.

His father looked back at him.

“Good luck, son.”

Then he disappeared upstairs.

Ethan turned to his mother.

“You planned this.”

“Of course I did.”

“You knew I would say no.”

“Yes.”

“And you invited us anyway.”

“Yes.”

Ethan exhaled.

Nora was trying very hard not to smile.

He looked at her.

“Don't.”

“I didn't say anything.”

“You're thinking it.”

She smiled.

Eleanor looked between them.

“Your old room is ready.”

Ethan sighed.

“Fine. We'll stay.”

“Good.”

Eleanor kissed his cheek, then turned toward Nora.

“Come with me. I want to show you where you both will be spending the night.

As Nora followed her upstairs, Ethan remained in the foyer for a moment.

He looked toward the staircase where his father had disappeared.

Then toward his mother.

He had spent years thinking of the estate as a place where everyone wanted something from him.

Tonight, for the first time in a long time, it felt slightly different.

Maybe because Nora was there.

Maybe because his father was still exactly the same.

Or maybe because he was going to share a room with Nora tonight.