Dream Catcher

Chapter 7

Lilith runs her thumbnail down the seams of her baguette purse, protecting her lap and giving a bouncing object for her anxious feet on tapping. Head bowed, she absently picks on a loose thread and knots it.

Ruben glanced at her, long moment of silence, now Lilith in some deep thought. The car ride tied a neurotic spell between them. Seemed like if Marci was awake, she could too add to the stuffier air circulating within. The silence was as if they were speaking aloud, but separated by a thick glass, unable to hear each other.

" This the one I bought? " Ruben nodded to the rosewood purse on her lap, trying to make conversation, for both himself and her.

Lilith seemed preoccupied, as if his question came very secondary, " yeah, christmas "

She broke off her thought and leaned back to Marci, safely strapped in her booster seat, head hung to her chest and lowly bobbed as Ruben drove carefully. He created a habit to drive cautiously every time he had somebody's daughter with him. He took that kind of responsibility very seriously without any such ulterior motive pushing the gesture. Lilith reached out her hand and lurched to adjust Marci's ironed looking sweater and patted it neatly on her, desperately trying to busy herself.

" I am nervous " she blurted out, when she noticed the old roads beautifully lit between the opulent neighbourhood, once they surpassed the community gate. For no reason atall Ruben felt like an intruder, uninvited when he passed it. Perhaps he wished the guards should've been familiar with him.

" Why?, " his hand reached out and squeezed her fiddling one to assure her, " it's been so long. "

She held his back, " exactly. It's been so long "

Ruben didn't say anything until they fell in line to the drive-way. He knew she was right. He knew it was his concern too. Pulling a hard stop, he chose to park under the shadow spot not being illuminated by the golden lit windows of the villa.

Lilith swiftly turned to him and almost climbed onto him, " you initiate, I think I will be able to carry it. But only after a while. "

Ruben was suddenly defensive with every word, " How am I supposed to do it?! I ghosted them! And they are family. I am the guilty one here. "

" Well, then how will I barge in, you are the one they want. It could be awkward. You know how they talk to me, darling. " Lilith starts to reason with him.

" But how? To whom? What will I say first? ", he didn't convince her of their liking.

" Ugh! wish we both could push in Marci. ", she looked at Marci, whose mouth stayed ogle in her sleep, " baby can't speak ", she bullishly nudged over to Marci, mid-air, puckering her lips.

" we both are going to be in disguise " Ruben playfully whispers, wiggling his dense eyebrows and they both chuckled. She shoved him as if they both stole a bottle of wine from their parents bedroom.

" I think just improvise! " Lilith suggested.

" no! Improvising makes me nervous "

" Okay okay, here's the deal. Be honest and don't give them anything to jab at. So say 'hello everyone,' and they reply, then throw Marci at them as a bait, and when they get busy with her. Which I am sure she is going to cry if we wake her up right now. Go up to them craftly to shake their hand individually, especially mama, and tell her before she does, ' It's been a long time' yada yada, act normal. Totally normal as nothing happened. The rest if anything, let's keep our cool. Okay? " Lilith dropped down a whole script for him which he carefully embossed in his head. " Oh god, I already know it's going to be bad "

" We will leave before you know it " Ruben assured her again.

" Do we have to do this? ", Lilith asked knowing there is no going back anyway.