Chapter 15 - Family Matters
983 Words
We settle on a casual, intimate pickie tea. We laugh and joke whilst cooking bits and preparing for our family. I carry an arrangement of dishes into the living room and place them onto the coffee table. I turn, and Wade frisbees a piece of pepperoni, which lands on my cheek.
"Right, you're having it, you little shit."
I laugh, dipping my finger into the chive cream dip, running over to him. He dodges out of the way, but I manage to catch his jaw. He bear hugs me, making me lick it off, the s****l tension returning between us. When we both freeze, hearing other laughter.
"This looks like the making of a good marriage."
Gary says, looking the proudest I've ever seen him. Wade and I separate from each other, and I can feel the blush rising on my cheeks.
"Ava, your um cheek."
Penny notices that the pepperoni still stuck me.
"Oh, I'll have that."
Wade pinches the slice and pops it into his mouth, smirking. Which earns another round of laughter.
The mood seems light and cheery, then our mums pull put a bottle of wine each, me and Penny share of look, knowing what's about to come.
"I'll get a glass."
Wade head to the kitchen.
"Better make it 4, son."
Gary chuckles.
Nate follows Wade into the kitchen and returns carrying beers for the men.
"Oh, I'll have one of them instead."
Penny gestures, opening her hands out to Nate as he throws her a beer.
"Everyone dig in and enjoy."
Wade says sitting on the corner sofa pulling me down with him, curling my legs up onto his lap, Penny next to me, then Diane, Mum and Nate on the end, our dads settling for the chairs.
Conversation is flowing, and comical banter between our parents and I notice looks being exchanged between Nate and Penny. I'll grill her on that later. Soon enough, our mums are asking if there is any more wine in the fridge, so I nip up to check. Upon my return, our dads have Wade interest asking about future children.
"Bill, your daughter is right there,don't be so insensitive."
Mum scolds him.
"Well, Ava?"
Dad turns to me asking for my input.
"You marry me off like I'm some sort of prize to be won, now you're trying to turn me into a prized mare for breeding ! Really, dad, do you know any boundaries. I'm your only bloody daughter."
Wade takes hold of my hand.
"Calm down, baby, he's only asking a question?"
"This really should be a conversation for the kids, Bill."
Diane injects, trying to keep the peace.
"Thank you."
I smile at Diane.
I sit back down, reach for my wine, and drink the whole glass in one, avoiding my dad's burning gaze.
"Who wants some whiskey?"
Gary stands, leading the way of man into the dining room.
"Let's leave the women talk."
he adds as the rest of the men follow suit.
"You okay ?" Penny whispers.
"He's such a jack ass, all of them, actually."
Penny rubs my arm.
"f*****g men. Oh, that reminds me. Mum, the bag, please."
Diane, hands Penny a gift bag and inside there's the double photoframe with a photo of our scan and a photo of the test. Alongside a Yankee candle, titled "Angel wings." and a journal for self-healing.
"Oh,"
Is all I get managed before tears fall. Not just me but all of us, our mums move in front of me and Penny encasing us in a hug.
We break lose, and Penny declares.
"It was Wade's idea. We just pulled it together."
As she sniffles and wipes her tears away, which sets our mums off crying again. Me and Penny rolling our eyes.
"It's perfect, I have no words to express my gratitude."
Maybe he does really care.
We hear the men cheering to a toast of some sorts, and they all wounder out of the dining room, nudging each other.
My parents are the first to call it a night, standing, with the others rising with them.
"So golf Friday, dad ? Gary, Wade you in ?" Nate asks innocently, approaching the front door.
" Uh, no, I don't think so! Absolutely not!"
I reply, all the men turn to face me, our mums mouths drop open.
"Oh,this is going to be good."
I hear Penny mutter knowingly.
"Pardon, young lady ?"
my dad steps forward.
"You're taking the piss right ? He's just spent 2 months piss arsing about in America, probably not alone. I'll add. While I've been here a good doting wife, awaiting his return. So if anybody deserves some R&R, it's me."
God, that felt good to say. My dad, however, clearly disagrees.
He starts to march over to me.
"You listen hear, you spoilt brat. If the man of the house wants to play golf, he'll go play. If he wants a mistress to excite him, hell, he can have 3, and if he wants to have 15 children, you'll lie on your back and open your legs. Do you understand ?"
He yells in my face, grabbing my arms and shaking me.
"Dad, get off her."
Nate squeezes past my mum to get to me, but Wade is there first, holding my dad's wrist.
"Remove your hands from my wife, and you will never refer to her in such a way ever again. If she wants me home, then I'll be here with her, irregardless of what we've been through. She's my priority. Not golf and especially not giving my attention else where."
Wade speaks calmly but shows clear authority, the height advantage over my father clearly helping to eminate his power.
"Now. Please.Leave."
My dad walks away, and Wade pulls me into an embrace. For once, I don't cry, I know with Wade here my dad's powerless over me
- Writer
