The Dead Among Us

Big family dinner

Sabin's POV 

When I step inside the house, Fa is still lending a hand in the kitchen. I enter the room, but she doesn't acknowledge me, so I look to Papi instead.

"Did I not say for her to sit down?" 

"Jessica asked for help," he argues.

I'm so sick of everyone disregarding what I'm saying. 

I snap in an instant, "She has broken ribs! Someone else can help!"

Papi didn't know about her incident and is caught off guard. He whirls around suddenly, demanding, "Fabia, sit down. Now."

She wipes her hands on a washcloth, her eyes downcast as she steers to the table. I'm still a bit irritated with Papi for not enforcing what I said for my slave when I stepped outside.

"Really?" I spit under my breath, my hands shaking as I take over the chore of chopping tomatoes that Fa was doing, my frustration palpable in the air.

"No lo sabía, mijo," he answers softly, focused on his task.

"You didn't know? She is walking around in clear pain. She even has a black eye. Don't tell me you didn't notice that either?"

Jessica blurts out, "I thought you did that."

I almost crack my neck with how swiftly I jerk my head back at her. When I express my strong desire to hurl this tomato in her face, I genuinely mean it. But then I'd prove her right. I've never raised a fist to a woman, and Jessica fucking knows that. I slam the knife down so hard that the bowl next to me clatters. I cant do this and end up walking away.

I sit down on the couch, and soon Jason comes back inside, and Jon and Manny come down the stairs. The whole family is together now. With how bad the atmosphere is, this should be an interesting meal.  

***

 When Papi summons everyone to the table, I'm the last one to arrive. I can sense Fa is confused about why we're having a big family dinner; she's looking around at Jason's family with crinkled eyebrows.

As I sit down next to Fa, I lean in, placing my arm around the back of her chair, and patiently explain in her ear, "Today, It's like...the Sabbath. Do you know how people do that?"

I understand it's not easy to understand our customs and beliefs if you're not familiar with them.

She nods, whispering back, "I've heard of the sabbath, but mainly on TV."

"It's not the Sabbath, two different religions, but it's similar," I reiterate. "Today, we dedicate our evening to God and the teachings he's bestowed on Pierre. We spend it with family, sometimes friends, the ones without families, ya know, but a lot of guards are still on duty. We thank him for the warning of the devil's invasion and the provisions he's provided his people."

I point to the food, tryna to clarify what I'm referring to in the provisions. I don't miss the wrinkled forehead and slight tilt in her head.

Her eyes drift deep into mine, "Pierre couldn't have known about the zombies. That doesn't make sense," her whisper is hesitant, and what she's saying, I need to shut down quickly. This is not the time or place.

"We're not having this discussion. Not right now."

She glances around the table nervously, "Fair."

As I turn back straight forward, Jon's gaze meets mine, filled with an unspoken question. I respond with a silent 'What?' through my expression, and he just resumes serving.