Atonement

ii

A/N: Apologies for the delay. I was meant to update sooner but I kept revising it. Anyways, here's the final draft, folks. I hope you enjoy!

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For Lianne, dinner in the Saavedra household has never been more lively in her books.It may be a decade too late, but looking at the people at the same dining table she had once despised, she couldn't help but think of how blind her younger self was not to see the happiness and comfort in the presence of these wonderful people.

It was insufferable for her back then to endure the presence of her father's family for the reason that she always felt like an outsider, and that was something that prevented her from accepting them wholeheartedly. The hospitality and benevolence of her stepmom and stepbrother did little to melt her cold heart. With them around, there was always a line drawn. She would stand on tiptoe, always with calculated behaviour. She only ever regarded the time spent with her father the most memorable, and that was it. As her life underwent a major transformation—from Oliver's abrupt departure to meeting and marrying Jamie to becoming a mother—she grew sterner and more distant from everyone around her. Thus, disregarding everything and taking for granted what mattered the most.

The merriment of this little gathering makes her feel the warmth that radiates from everyone. It feels like coming home after a long and arduous journey.She looks at each of them, determined to embed their bright, happy faces in her mind, terrified of never being able to experience this again.

"You okay there, anak?" The baritone voice of her father takes her out of her musing. He's sitting next to her, ever so attentive to his only daughter.

"Never been better." She smiles sincerely.

His father examines her face trying to trace any signs of pretense. "Are you happy?" he asks.

Everyone seems to hold their breath as they anticipate her answer. "Extremely euphoric, Papa. Thank you." She kisses her father's cheek and leans her head on his shoulder blade.

"Anything for you, sweetheart."

The conversation in the room began lighthearted, but situations like this often inevitably take an awkward turn at the end. The topic has switched to her family, and now no matter how discreet they are in doing so, she can sense their eyes on her subtly noting every minor nuanced in her countenance .

"Bakit kasi hindi na lang dito. The hacienda is perfect  for such special occasion. We have  more than the means to provide the best for my apo." Her father grunts his disapproval.

"George, she didn't want it to be a grandiose get together like you're intending to do. And besides, the hacienda has been the consistent venue. Let her experience it in a different setting." Sylvia intercepts in a disapproving tone but in a calm and understanding manner that makes you listen and concede to her reasoning.

"Even so. Benjamin ought to have known better than to gather us all in one place at the same time."

"Perhaps this is the right time to put aside the conflicts between our families. Don't you think? For a very long time, we have been at odds with them. George, we need to put an end to this."

"I will not put up with the presence of those two old conceited, holier-than-thou individuals who always try to belittle us in every way possible."

She had heard of this ongoing rift from Maggie before. After visiting her in Quebec one day, her friend mentioned that when she left, the Saavedras and the Zachariases drifted apart and a bad blood developed between the two families. Well, the drama actually only existed between their parents. Jamie's parents took the breakup of their marriage gravely, and the news of her running away only rubbed salt to the wound. In an effort to avoid further friction, Jihan would hold two birthday parties -- one with Lianne's family and the other with Jamie's. Lianne presumes that this is the first time in a while that they're going to celebrate her daughter's birthday  in one place with all of them invited.