Intertwined

Chapter 1

"Luke! I'm so pleased you could make it to dinner with us tonight."

A small, frail woman stood before him with wrinkles at the corners of her light blue eyes. Her smile deepened the wrinkles as she showed her bright white teeth and embraced him in a gentle hug. He leaned down and kissed her cheek before she stepped back and looked him up and down.

"Oh my have you grown since I last saw you. How are you doing?"

"I've been good. How are you, grandma?"

"Oh I'm well as always. Living life like I'm 30 again." She laughed and motioned for him to follow her.

"Your parents are already here."

"Well of course they are."

They walked into a cream colored room with flower vases in the corners that stood tall and vibrant. A dark mahogany coffee table was at the center of the room with a short glass flower vase. Baby pink peonies poked out of the vase like a small bush, contrasting with the plain cream colored rug and wall. A baby pink vintage couch was place on the long side of the rug and table, with rose colored throw pillows on either side.

His father sat in the white arm chair to the right of the long couch. His mother was seated on the couch, staring at her phone as she held a glass of light golden champagne. His father sat there silently, drinking out of his short glass that was filled with what he could only assume was whiskey.

"Would you like a drink, Luke?" His grandmother spoke, trying to break the silence in the room.

"I'm good, but thank you. I'll just have water at dinner."

"Nonsense, I'll give the boy a whiskey. He needs to learn to drink like a man."

"Really, dad, I'm okay."

"For God's sake, Luke, just take the damn whiskey and drink it." He stood up and finished off his own, before walking over the drink table, in the corner next the large stone fireplace.

"I'm going to go check on dinner, it should be ready shortly. Excuse me." His grandmother smiled and briskly walked out with her heels clicking away against the hardwood floors.

Luke took a seat across from his father in the other arm chair after he grabbed the glass of whiskey. He swirled the glass in his hand and watched the liquid swirl, but he didn't bother to drink it.

"So, did Loraine fit you for the new tuxedo yet?" His mother flattened her skirt as she stood up from the couch and finished off her champagne. She walked over to the fireplace and set her glass on the mantel before turning back around and waiting for him to answer.

"Yes."

"Good. I expect it to be in good condition for the charity event next weekend."

"Do I have to go? It's always the same thing and I'd rather just stay upstairs in my room."

"Absolutely not. You're our son even if you do disappoint us. You have to make an appearance or the guests will think we've completely failed."

Before he could speak again, his grandmother walked back into the room.

"Dinner is ready to be served. If you'd like to come into the dinning room now.."

Both of Luke's parents stood abruptly and followed her through the hallway and into the dinning room. He took a deep breath and shut his eyes before he stood up and slowly trailed behind.

They all sat down at a large mahogany table, with a thin black table cloth sprawled over the surface. another small flower vase was carefully centered, but still low to allow a view of the people across the table. His grandmother sat at the head of the table with a painting of her husband high on the wall behind her. His mother sat cross from him, to the left of his grandmother, and his father at the opposite end of the table. The walls in this room were a darker tan, with dark wooden boarders and pillars in each corner that showed marvelous carvings and designs. He had admired the craftsmanship of the house greatly. 

"I hope you all enjoy salmon with asparagus. Its one of my favorites." She smiled gingerly and began to pick at the pink filet on her plate. They all followed suit and quietly ate their food. The only sound in the room came from their forks and the classical music playing lightly in the background.

"You haven't touched your whiskey, Luke."

"Richard, dear, he's fine. Don't force him to drink it. He still has to drive home."

"I don't care. The boy should be able to have one drink and still be able to drive. Be a man and drink it already."

His jaw set as he reluctantly grabbed the glass and finished it off quickly. With an approving nod, they both returned to eating their food in silence.