The Affair

Chapter 12.3

Saturday, June 25, 2022, 7:30pm

Just after 7:30pm the party migrates inside the house for gift openings and cake. William sat himself at the end of the kitchen table amidst a small stack of colored envelopes, a few festive gift bags, and Fallon's neatly wrapped gift that stood out amongst the other, simpler, items. William begins opening the envelopes first, stopping to read each card's silly birthday joke about getting old and triggering light chuckles throughout the group, while June was preparing his cake with the number candles corresponding to his age, '3' and '5'. He quickly moves through the small gifts and then diverts his eyes upon the last, and largest gift at the table. He pulls Fallon's gift from the chair next to him and places it on the table. It was a rather large object, approximately 16inx24in in size but was also thin like a picture frame, he stands to inspect the objects To and From label.

"Last but not least, this one is from... Fallon!", he says, looking towards Fallon with a happy smile, "Wow, big enough? Haha!".

Fallon watches as William props up her gift on its edge to carefully remove the tape from the fold so that he could slide out the contents from the paper rather than rip it. Exposing the top edge from the paper, he pulls the object out from the wrapping paper and gently places it back onto the table.

"Oh god, maybe this was a mistake...", Fallon thinks to herself, nervous about her gift.

William takes a small step back as he looks upon Fallon's gift while the rest of the onlookers gather around so that they could also get a better look.

"Fallon... this is...remarkable", he stammers, impressed by the work before him.

As the crowd gathered around William to look upon the gift before him, they too offered words of praise and compliments. Among them was Dylan, who was instantly intrigued by Fallon's gift to William.

"Fallon... where did you get this?", he asks before looking over to Fallon, "It's an awesome painting!".

With Dylan's question lingering in the air, the crowd turns their attention to Fallon for her answer. Feeling judgmental stares prick her body, she lowers her eyes to the ground and starts to fiddle with her fingers.

"I...um... I painted it...", she mutters, wishing she could hide from all of the peering eyes.

Dylan's astonishment echoes through the crowd. "Whoa... You're serious? 'Fal, that's incredible! You're incredible!", Dylan bellows, flush with excitement in learning about Fallon's hidden talent.

"Turn it around, Will. I want to see.", June says flatly.

William follows his wife's instructions and rotates the painting so that she could view Fallon's work. The painting depicted a large majestic wolf with a golden glow on its coat standing stoically in front of a small wolf cub colored in a more subdued blue tone. The two figures were over a backdrop of pale blues, purples, and white speckles across the canvas, mimicking a snowy winter landscape. Along the edges of the canvas was a subtle border of black paint that faded into the painting, providing an impression of a scene that would be consumed by darkness if it were not for the golden wolf protecting the cub. William's feelings were complex as he viewed Fallon's work; the different tones between the two wolves made him think that this was not a scene depicting a parent protecting its young, but rather something that was almost angelic or divine in nature. He further felt comforted by the use of the soft blue and purple tones but was simultaneously anxious about the black gradient that existed around the portrait. William ponders the meaning in his head as the crowd continued to admire Fallon's work.

"Is the darkness encroaching, and thus this scene depicts a guardians final stand in protecting the cub? Or is the darkness being overpowered by the guardian's golden glow, and therefor leaving the cub unharmed?", he wonders in his mind.

"My goodness, Fallon... I had no idea you were so talented.", June says, a touch of condescension breaking through her stoic tone.

Fallon blushes from all of the praise. "Aah, thank you everyone...", she stammers, looking to William and wishing he would meet her eyes.

Seeing Fallon stare at William, June decides to inquire further about Fallon's exorbitant gift to her husband. "Something like this must have taken you quite a long time...", she pries, fixing a subtle glare onto Fallon, "What has my husband done to deserve something so special?".

Fallon could feel June's inquisitive energy, and she mutters the first excuse that comes to mind. "I... Um, It's just something I've been working on for awhile now... I didn't have a gift so I, uh, you know, I just thought maybe Mr. Reiner would like it...", she answers.

June purses her lips. "Hmm...", she murmurs, unimpressed with her answer.

June strikes a match and lights the two candles on William's cake. Carefully she cradles the dessert in her arms and carries it over to the table, placing it before William. With a mischievous smile playing upon her lips, she bends down to her husband and encircles her arms around his shoulders before giving him a soft kiss on his cheek.

"Please... please don't sing that song.", William thinks to himself, praying that his wife would not subject him to a group Happy Birthday shanty.

"Alright! Who's ready to sing?!", she exclaims, beckoning the small crowd's attention.

As the group responds with a cheerful bellow, William's face blushes with embarrassment.

"I'm just kidding, sweetheart.", she says with a sly wink to her husband, "Anyone who knows my husband also knows that he does not like being sung to. So instead, on the count of three, everyone just shout 'Happy Birthday'. Understood!? Okay, here we go. ONE, TWO, THREE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!".

The crowd of guests all lift their drinks in the air as they shout 'Happy Birthday' in unison. William, thankful that his wife did not make him suffer through the singing, happily blows out his two candles and stands to hug and kiss his wife. The crowd cheers merrily as June then begins to cut small pieces of cake for her guests, and William remains near the end of the table as each guest approaches him to mingle.

Fallon looks upon the lively atmosphere around Mr. Reiner, unable to shake off an uncomfortable feeling of detachment from him. Her slightly drunken state compels her to pour another melonball from the pitcher on the counter, only to then swiftly down it all in one single drink. In that fleeting moment, as the alcohol courses through her veins, she feels the distance between them growing larger.

"Okay, everyone! Grab a piece of cake and let's head into the living room. Malcolm has politely asked to watch the Rangers game so I'll put that on!", June calls out, commanding her guests' attention, "Let's go!".

The crowd gleefully follows June's instructions and gathers around the table to grab their piece of cake before filing into the living room. Eager to spend more time with Fallon, a smiling Dylan saunters over to her with two small plates of cake in his hand.

"Hey, 'Fal, got you a piece. Let's go find a seat.".

"Ah, right. Th-thanks.", she mutters, taking the plate from him, "Lemme just use the bathroom real quick, a-and then I'll get myself another drink. I'll meet you in there...".

"Of course. I'll, uh, save you a spot.".

With a meek smile, Dylan turns and walks into the living room, leaving Fallon alone in the kitchen. Confused with her feelings, Fallon turns to the melonball pitcher on the counter and pours the remaining bit into her cup. Once again she downs the beverage in one steady drink, retching slightly from the extra potent taste of alcohol that had collected at the bottom of the pitcher. Leaving her cake behind on the counter, she steps outside to the back patio. Eying the red ice chest, she walks over and grabs a can of orange hard seltzer before sitting down in a chair closest to where William was working earlier.

She pops open the carbonated beverage and takes a drink, only to then immediately grimace at the gross taste. Unhindered, she brings the can to her lips once more in hopes that her drunken state would help her forget her feelings for the night.

As the festivities continue on inside the house, Fallon's heart sinks deeper into solitude. Tears begin to well up in her eyes as she looks towards the back door, wishing that Mr. Reiner would come walking out. Instead she hears a muffled cheer from within the house, signaling that the crowd inside was having a good time without her. Losing out to her depressive chain of thought, she sighs and takes another sip of her seltzer as she sinks further into her chair.

~