THEN YOU CAME BACK [mcd]

chapter fifteen

This meal was much like the last. Leading up to everything, it's very awkward as Laurance and Kandi distance themselves from each other. Vylad quietly sits in the background. Elizabeth is curious about him, and it took Garroth forcing Vylad for the two to meet.

The table has an extra place setting for Vylad. Elbows touch one another, but our house remains to be the house for hosting. Elizabeth is propped up on her books, but she insists that Vylad sits next to her. She was drawn more to Vylad than she was to Laurance, but I believe it's because she had experienced this two months ago.

"Vylad, do you plan on telling mom that you're back?" Garroth asks, glancing over to Vylad. There's been some talk during this dinner, but it isn't filled with laughter and excited voices like they normally are. Except, it isn't as awkward as when we had this dinner two months ago.

"I'm not sure. I haven't put much thought into telling her," Vylad says, lowering his eyes to his plate before slicing a piece of asparagus in half.

"It seems you haven't put much thought into telling any of your family that you're back, except Garroth of course." Kandi's words are bitter as she stabs at the food on her plate. I look over at her aggressive behavior, giving her a silent, motherly, scolding look.

Vylad falls silent. There's an internal sigh occurring within me as I look over at Garroth. It doesn't appear that there's anything we can do to fix any of this.

"All done," Elizabeth says, peeking her head up. She seems oblivious to the conversation at hand. "Can I pway?"

Garroth nods his head with a happy smile and goes to move his chair back. It makes a short sounding squeak before Vylad holds up his hand and insists he help her down because he's closest. Elizabeth lets out a "wee" on the way down before going into the living room by her toys.

"I believe there needs to be a talk after this dinner," I announce. I'm unable to lift my eyes from the plate. I'm too ashamed to.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°

I left the four in the kitchen to figure out their own problems. Garroth is sitting in a chair by the doorway, and I can't help but sit in front of him to make sure there isn't a fight, or that my china isn't broken. Kandi's in her ninth month, and we've all noticed she gets angry easily now.

"Was this a bad idea?" I ask. My shoulders have slumped down in the chair, like the rest of my body. "Should I have done this? I shouldn't have done this."

"It was Elizabeth's idea."

"Don't pin this on our three year old."

I can't help but to glance over to the group of four. I haven't heard yelling, so it seems to be a good sign. Laurance and Travis are talking, and Kandi is talking to Vylad now. At least the duos have changed.

Elizabeth walks over to me, reaching for me to place her on my lap. Holden sleeps in Garroth's arms. I smile at my daughter, kissing the top of her blonde head.

"Mama," she says, looking up at me. She isn't showing off her usual smile, and she seems to look a bit confused. Sad, even. "Why is everyone fighting? You and daddy don't fight."

That would be a lie. In a perfect universe, Garroth and I would always get along, but we don't. We don't always see eye to eye, and someone is upset for upsetting the other person. We try to hide our fighting from the children. It isn't often there's a fight, but they do happen.

I squeeze Elizabeth in my arms. "Well, sometimes when you really care about someone, and they leave for a while, you get upset. It's better to express your feelings rather than bottling them up. That's why they're having an adult conversation, Elizabeth, not a fight."

"Okay mama," she says, but it seems she doesn't seem very convinced by my words. That, or she doesn't fully understand them. "Like the adult talk me and daddy had?"

"Yeah, kind of like that."

Kandi walks into the room, and the three boys follow behind. The air in here has changed. It doesn't feel as hostile anymore. "Auntie Kandi, you okay now?"

Kandi looks over at Elizabeth, shocked by her words. "Of course, Lizzy, Auntie Kandi's okay."

Elizabeth nods her head and hops off my lap, turning to me expectantly. She knows there are pies in the kitchen, and she wants a piece now. The look on Garroth's face seems to agree with Elizabeth's mindset. We both rise, and Garroth goes to lay Holden down before walking back to the kitchen.

I can't help but reach for Kandi's wrist. "Are you sure everythings okay?"

She nods. "I'm not going to lie to Elizabeth."