Stained ~ Book Three Of The "Meant To Be" Series

Chapter 10

   "What are you thankful for, mom?" Asks Cassie grinning as she swings her feet from the chair she's sitting on. Her mouth and cheeks are stained with chicken sauce. I smile slightly.
    "I am thankful for, amazing children," I pause and give both Cassie and Mason a kiss on the cheek, "For a loyal and loving husband," I look at Tobias warmly, and I see him pressing his lips, but cracking into a smile afterwards. "And for the best parents and brother and sister in law anyone could ask for," I say lastly.
    "Aww, Beatrice," says Caleb who sits next to me. "Cliche as always," he wraps his arm around my shoulder and gives me a peck on the cheek.
    "I mean, isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about?" Says Rose, Caleb's wife and everyone laughs lightly.
    A few minutes after eating and talking about different topics, the doorbell rings. Tobias and I look at each other and furrow our eyebrows. We haven't invited anyone else. We never invite anyone else except my parents, Caleb and Rose. "I'll get it," I say, wiping my hands clean with a napkin and walk towards the door. I open it, and there is the person I'd expect to see last.
His hair is grizzly, he looks pale and has lost much weight. "Marcus?" I ask quietly in shock. "What– what are you doing here?"
"Beatrice?" He asks. "I thought this was my son's house . . . Does he live around here somewhere?"
"He does live here . . . Why?"
"He lives here? Then why are you– Wait, you two are still together?" He asks, furrowing his eyebrows and holding back a laugh. "Is he in there?" He asks, looking beyond the gapped door.
"Em– just a second," I say nervously, going back inside, making sure to close the door afterwards and go to the dinning room. "Tobias," I interrupt their conversation and their laughs. He looks up at me in confusion. He stands up and follows me.
"What is it?" He asks, making sure my family isn't listening. No words come out of my mouth, and all I am able to do is point at the door. He slowly opens it, and the moment he sees his fathers face, his hand immediately runs up his jeans, where he keeps a pistol. As the Sherif, he must always keep one close, let alone now that he might be taking the job offer to work for the CIA. "Tris, please wait for me inside," he says angrily, without looking at me. I nod my head and quickly go back to the table, trying to act normal, but I can't concentrate on anything because I keep thinking of why would Marcus show up, after all these years. Thinking of what is it that he might want. Thinking of what Tobias is feeling right now.
     A few minutes later, I hear the door open and close shut. Our conversation stops, and we all turn our heads towards the hall, where we do not see only Tobias, but Marcus too, walking beside him, wearing a forced smile and a shocked expression when he sees Mason and Cassie. I wrap a protective arm around Mason, who is sitting next to me in his child chair.
    My Mom and Dad stand up, looking delighted. "Marcus," says my father, reaching out his hand for him to shake it. "I don't think we knew you were coming . . . We must apologize; we've already started."
    "Oh, don't worry about that. I decided to come in the last moment," he says, shaking both my parents' hands and Caleb's.
    "Hi, I'm Rose," she smiles. "Caleb's wife."
    "Delighted. I'm Marcus," He says then stands in front of me, holding out his hand and grinning. I look away, and shake it loosely, giving Tobias a look of fear, which he returns.
     I see Cassie watch him with a bitter look. "Who are you?" She asks, causing my parents to look quite confused at how she don't know her own grandfather. But it isn't her fault. We've never mentioned him to her . . .
    "Casey? You don't know me?" He says, laughing, taking a seat next to Tobias' chair, which we have as an extra.
    "My name's not Casey," she corrects him. "It's Cassie."
    "Same thing," he says in a hint of laughter. She glares at him. People often call her Casey instead of Cassie, and it really bothers her for some reason.
    I stand up, clearing my throat and taking some plates for Marcus. We weren't expecting him, and I wasn't expecting Tobias to let him in, but since he is now here, we must be polite towards him especially in front of the children and my family . . .
    Not a word was spoken as I placed the dishes in front of Marcus. "Why thank you, Beatrice." There's a tension starting to occur upon us. We don't joke the same way, don't talk about the things we were. We just sit in silence.
   "So you're Tobias' father," says Rose. She's always so optimist and positive, always trying to find the good in situations and people. Marcus nods at her statement.
    My fathers clears his throat, forcing himself to start a conversation, "How have you been Marcus?" He says, in a friendly tone.
    "Ahh, old," he replies jokingly, trying to end the conversation before it can properly start.
    "When was the last time you saw each other?" Asks my Dad, referring to Tobias, me, and the kids, not giving up on getting the information he wants to know. Marcus immediately looks uncomfortable, giving Tobias frequent glances, pleading for help with his eyes.
     He stutters, "Well it's been a while . . ." he laughs nervously, not wanting to continue his answer.
    "Fifteen years, to be more specific," Tobias corrects. Caleb chokes on his water at his answer. Marcus glares at Tobias with the deadliest look. My Dad wants to laugh at first, thinking it is a joke, but when he realizes the looks on our faces he stops himself.
    "Well . . . It's been very busy you know . . ." Tries to defend himself, Marcus.
    "With what exactly?" Questions Tobias. "Have you even heard of Olivia? What abut Evelyn?"
    "Tobias," I interrupt him from continuing, in alarm. He looks at me, looking the most furious I have ever seen him in my entire life. I give him a look, full of awe, telling him not to speak of this now. No one speaks once again. I feed Mason in silence, wiping his mouth clean after every few bites.
Evelyn? Why did he mention his dead mother?
     "So . . . Em– Can you believe Christmas is in a month?" Rose changes the subject. I appreciate her trying to make a conversation and keep things clean between all of us, but I feel like it's making Tobias uncomfortable. "It's amazing how time flies, isn't it?"
    Tobias suddenly stands up angrily, stomping towards the front door, and walks out without speaking another word. Everyone looks at me, and I press my lips. "Mom, what's going on?" Asks Cassie quietly, looking up at me. "Why did this man make Daddy angry?" She whispers, but everyone still hears her.
    "Cassie, please enjoy your meal. We'll talk about it later, all right?" I say and she nods, continuing to eat.
    It's Thanksgiving for goodness' sake. Today is the only day in month that I've been feeling normal, and not suicidal, and it has gotten ruined by one of the people I have the most hate for.
    We were supposed to be happy today, the whole family reunited, catching up on each other's lives . . . We don't see each other often, and the Holidays are the only times we get to be together. We've all waited for Thanksgiving all year, but now we all can't wait until it's over.