The Affair

Chapter 17

NOVEMBER

I smooth my hair back as I go up in the elevator. I have a bottle of wine tucked into my arm and look myself over quickly. I'm dressed quite nicely, in a navy three piece suit, and a gray tie. I look handsome.

Earlier last week, I had a meeting at Hugh's office. He asked me what my plans were for today. I've never celebrated Thanksgiving and when I told him that, he insisted that I come celebrate with them. Them being Theodora's family. I know from her that Hugh is an only child and both of his parents were only children, so he doesn't have much family aside from her. But I said I would think about it and when I told Theodora, she begged me to come.

So now I'm here, the elevator doors opening to chatter and laughter. I wonder if it's too late to turn around, message Hugh and tell him something came up, and sleep the day away. I barely like spending the holidays with my own family, let alone with a man I don't care for. The only saving grace is that she'll be here. I wouldn't have come otherwise.

I take my coat off and hang it by the doors, go in, and glance at the large portrait of Hugh and Theodora. I always do that when I'm here and always think of how much I hate it. I prefer the photograph of us that I have on my nightstand.

As I approach the kitchen, the voices get louder, and I can smell turkey. It reminds me of Christmas as a young child. I'm being greeted by Hugh as I go in. He's dressed down more than I've ever seen him before, in a sweater and jeans. I shake his hand and find her across the kitchen, drinking a glass of wine, and snapping green beans. She smiles at me so warmly that it makes me feel weak in the knees. I smile, too.

"We weren't sure if you were going to show. I'll introduce you to everyone..."

And he does. Her mother, Bernadette, is basically an older version of her, with gray hair, few wrinkles, and the same kind eyes and smile that she has. She's also only a year older than me, as Theodora has told me before. She had her brother when she was only eighteen, then Theodora came a few years later.

Her brother, Christopher, resembles her father much more, who I have only seen pictures of. He's very kind. And he's brought a date, one of the models from the first runway show that Theodora participated in. Alice. I've met her before, she's close friends with Anya, and just from the way she looks at me I don't think she's pleased to see me. I'm sure they've spoken about what happened at my flat. But we greet one another, anyway.

There's a wide array of food laid out on their dining table. It's so vast and large and I've always wondered why they have it when it's just the two of them that live here. She doesn't have much family and Hugh has even less than that.

Yesterday afternoon we made love in my apartment and talked about today. She can't cook, not very well anyway, and told me her mother was preparing almost everything. Her father is having his own Thanksgiving and she was extended an invitation, but didn't want to go. When she told me she felt guilty over it, I convinced her that she had no reason to feel that way. Most of the stories she's told me about her father have given me a shit opinion of him. He was mean and callous and angry and hurt her more than she ever should have been hurt.

I smile and greet her as if we haven't just seen one another, set my bottle of wine down, and try my best not to be out of place. It isn't easy. I feel out of place and incredibly awkward here. Even being in the same room with her can't help that. It's how I've always been, especially around people I don't know.

"Would you like a drink, Maddox?"

I nod at Hugh, thankful he's asked.

"Yes, please. That would be great."