Generations: The Long Game

The Dinner Party

Marjorie and Reece laid awake in the bed just listening to the silence. This was the second night in a row that Emery hadn't woken up after a 2a feed. He was staying up longer during the day as well. Her heart just absolutely melted every time she heard him giggle or babble away to himself. She rolled to face Reece breaking the silence. "We should have a dinner party." He rolled his eyes slightly, but truthfully, he liked the idea. Between everyone else having their babies about two months ago and him planning the grand reopening of the restaurant. They hadn't seen enough of their nursery family.

"Besides it will be nice to get pictures of all the babies together before he is not a baby anymore." She looked so sad he couldn't resist pulling her into him. "Marjorie he is only five months old." 

"I know, but we are gonna blink and he is gonna be five years old. It goes by so fast. I don't want to miss out on any of the memories." She had become a bit obsessed with snapping pictures of him throughout the day. Everyday. He did his fair share of picture taking too, but he would never admit it was an obsession.

"Okay, when do you want to have the dinner party? Are we giving people fair warning or short notice?"

"Short notice. Tomorrow evening. That way Autumn can't spend the week trying to produce a reason not to come." He chuckled at the implication, but to be fair she wasn't exaggerating.

Autumn Mia Sorscha Carly

R - Dinner Party at ours 6p tomorrow evening. I'm cooking.

S - we'll be there

R - don't get a sitter. Marjorie wants pictures of the children.

S - even better. See you then.

C - of course I am coming.

A - this was Marjorie's idea, wasn't it?

R - Aut can you make it or not?

A - we'll be there.

R - good see you tomorrow evening.

M - we will be there as well.

R  -  well that is that all sorted then.

"They have all agreed." She thought that was rather quick. They never agreed to a group meeting for her that easily. She looked at him and squinted. "You said you would cook?" He nodded. She needed a superpower like that. They both laughed.

A lot of the beginning of their relationship had been physical, but they enjoyed each other's company as well. They loved each other even more. When Emery was born, and the physical aspect was brushed aside their bond grew into something even more beautiful. Something they were both proud of. They had learned to work as a team, and that was going to be all the more valuable in the future.

The grand reopening of the restaurant was only a few days away and he was feeling the stress rise. He had taken to walking aimlessly around town during his lunch hour. He was sure he recognized the woman working on a display in a nearby window but couldn't place her. She turned and it hit him. He hadn't seen her in nearly a year. So much had changed since then, but something pushed him through the door. "Siobhan?"

She turned toward him. She didn't smile, but she seemed softer somehow. More approachable. "Reece, how can I help you?" He looked around before explaining that he had just been walking by and saw her in the window. They had never been friends, but there was still a bond. They had both been manipulated, controlled, and abused by the same person. They spent a few moments catching up. She was guarded, but he couldn't blame her. Before he even thought about what he was doing he said, "Siobhan, Marjorie and I are having a dinner party tomorrow. Why don't you come? You can bring someone if you like." She didn't agree, but she didn't decline either. She would think about it. With that he turned to leave and was taken aback when she called out to him. "Reece, it was nice to see you." He nodded and then walked back to the restaurant.

As soon as he stepped out of the boutique, he realized he probably shouldn't have invited her, but somehow, she seemed different. She probably wouldn't accept anyway, so he decided to put it out of his mind and get back to work.

Marjorie got Emery ready. She was trying somewhat unsuccessfully to tame his blond curls. She gave them one last fluff before moving on. She scooped him up and made her way downstairs. Reece was already in the kitchen chopping and dicing vegetables when the doorbell rang.

Marjorie opened the door expecting it to be one of their friends and found Siobhan, Vivian, and Jamey. She tried to mask her shock, but Marjorie's face, as it so often did, betrayed her. "I'm sorry, Reece invited us. Did he forget to mention?"

Marjorie blushed but made an excuse that she just forgot. She led them in and offered drinks. It was a tad bit awkward to say the least. Vivian had always been kind or at least cordial at the nursery. Still, it was a bit weird having a parent in their home. The more unusual thing was that Reece hadn't warned her about Siobhan. Did the others know?

When they arrived, it was evident that they did not. As the night wore on Siobhan spent time talking to each person from her past. Marjorie felt bad for her. She was wading through tensions and emotions with grace and that at least was admirable. She seemed changed. That didn't mean that she wasn't leery of her. They had once been somewhat friendly before Roger. That seemed a long time ago now.

Siobhan approached Marjorie while she was snapping pictures of Quinn and Emery who had fallen asleep holding each other's hands. Marjorie was absolutely melting, but she turned to Siobhan almost coldly. "Marjorie, I know that nothing I say is going to change the years we have seen together. I have no excuse for my behavior over those years. I was a hurt person hurting other people for sport. It is abhorrent. I am deeply ashamed of my past, and simultaneously overwhelmingly proud that I made it through. I feel most ashamed for how I treated you. When we met all those years ago you offered me friendship and I threw it back in your face. I didn't know then how incredibly difficult that is to come by. I hope that one day we might be able to extend the hope of friendship to each other again."

Marjorie didn't know what to make of this new Siobhan, but she seemed genuine. She smiled at the blonde and pulled her into a hug. If giving her a chance was the wrong thing to do Marjorie was willing to take the risk. The way she saw it was that Siobhan no longer had any leverage over her or her family, so what she was seeing must be real, but only time would tell.