Melisa Miller, Week Three, Story Four

Dinner Table Conversations

“Dad, they’re here.”
“I know, Kevin. I’ll be right there.” George paced out of the kitchen, where his wife was standing, wiping a tear from her red face. He opened the front door to a bright- eyed old man who could have been Santa Clause in a suit and tie, along with Mrs. Clause, not so cheery looking, quainter, pale and subdued.
“Hello, Tom! Come in.” George shook old Tom’s hand and the three of them strolled into the dining room.
“This is a marvelous place you’ve got here.” Mrs. Clause said to George’s wife, who was now straightening out her apron as well as her hair.
“My name is Carol.”
“It’s nice to meet you Carol, I’m Katherine.” Katherine’s face was steadily shifting to a more subtle pink.
After calling Kevin into the dining room, the party of five sat down to eat. The salad bowl was passed around and conversation stirred between weather and cars, action movies and cell phone providers. When the chicken and potatoes were cleaned from his plate George asked Kevin to leave and go play in his room.
“Tom. I suppose you’re wondering why I called for this gathering, besides my wife’s excellent cooking.” Katherine shifted her eyes away from George and down to her plate.
“I’m afraid I have some bad news. My wife and I have decided to move. I am going to have to leave the company. Tom lowered his fork to his plate and opened his mouth to speak but swiftly finished chewing his broccoli.
“I don’t know what to say. This seems a bit sudden.”
“I know. It’s just that Katherine here has always dreamed of living on a lake up north and we finally have the opportunity. We’re financially stable enough to finally make the move. And we’ve found the perfect house. There’s even a balcony right off the master bedroom, right over the water. Not another town for miles around.”
The sound of Katherine’s tea cup clattering onto its saucer suddenly shifted everyone’s focus.
“Sorry.” Katherine gave a thin smile.
“Katherine, are you alright?” said George, turning to Tom and Carol, “see what I mean? She can hardly contain herself, she’s so excited.”
“Well, I have to say this comes as quite a surprise. All you’ve been talking about these past few weeks is this new project with Williams and Co. You’ve never been one to leave anything unfinished.”
“I know how it must seem.” George softly dabbed his napkin on his lips and cleared his throat. “I would never plan on leaving anything this suddenly but you know what they say, life happens while you’re planning everything else.” I’m just trying to do what’s best for my family.” George placed his hand on top of Katherine’s, which was resting on the table clutching her napkin.
“Excuse me,” said Katherine. “I’m going to go use the restroom.” Katherine quickly shifted out of her chair and out of sight. Tom and Carol looked at each other and then to George.
“You know what; I think I’m going to go use the restroom as well. I must have had one too many glasses of water.” George followed Katherine up to the bedroom where she was staring into the mirror. George came up behind her, grabbed her by the arm and turned her to face him.
“What are you doing? Don’t walk away like that. You know you’re just asking for it. Tom is going to suspect something.” George was sputtering his words out so close to Katherine’s face, she had to wipe his spit off her own.
“I can’t do this, George.”
“You think you have a choice?”
“I-” George slapped Katherine across the face and her lip started bleeding. “Now look what you’ve done. Clean that up, you’re coming back downstairs. I don’t think I need to say anymore” and he squeezed her arm so hard, her fingers started twitching.
George and Katherine sat back down at the table, both placing their napkins over their laps. Katherine put on a smile that stretched from check to cheek-
“Carol, that’s a gorgeous broach, where on earth did you find such a treasure?”