Family Dinner

“Look who’s here,” an unpleasant voice announced followed by slow petty claps from who Elaine guessed was the owner of the voice. “Welcome, sir Romano.”

Elaine’s head raised to gaze at the occupants of the magnificent chairs in the dining hall, her eyes darting from the overly dressed women to the couple who had their eyes on her. Recognizing them, her eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Jimmy? Ria? What the hell were they doing in the same family gathering as her?

She never expected them to be present but well, they were part of the Romano family after all. At the edge of the table was the oldest woman of the Romano family, on her right and left were her son and daughter-in-law respectively. For the rest of the people sitting in the hall, she couldn’t recognize them except for Jimmy and Ria of course. Those two would never stop pestering her life.

“Thank you so much for your grand welcome, Aunty. I appreciate,” Xavier’s voice rang from beside her, his hands encircling her waist tightly. “Everyone, meet my soon-to-be wife, Elaine Rock,” he started. “Doll, this is my dear sister, Margaret, and her three kids, Jimmy, Sofia and Sonia.” He pointed at the four people who sat next to his father. “And lastly, my dear mother and grandmother. Y’all, it would be advisable if you say hi to my future wife.” His gaze rested on Jimmy, his piercing eyes warning him to take the lead.

Clearing his throat, Jimmy began. “Welcome to the family, Aunty.”

His last word elicited a smile from Xavier. He looked too pleased for the look in his eyes. “Perfect.” He looked over to Ria.

“Welcome, Aunty.”

“Welcome, Elaine Rock,” Margaret greeted just like everyone else at the table.

Bowing her head, Elaine replied. “Thank you all for the warm welcome, I’ll do my best to meet your expectations.”

Her eyes darted to Xavier’s mother who smiled widely at them before gesturing with her hands. “Come over, you both. Dinner has already begun.”

“Thank you.”

Xavier led her to the two empty chairs just beside his mother. He dragged out the chair for her and waited until she was well seated before sitting on the chair next to her. Immediately, Mrs Romano got to the mother-in-law's job. She helped Elaine with meat on her plate and watched her take the first bite, the delicious taste washing over her tongue.

“Hmm, this is so juicy.” Elaine complimented.

“Delicious? I made them.”

“Perfect, Mrs. Romano.” Mrs. Romano’s eyes sparkled at every pleasing bite that Elaine took. “I can already tell that we’re going to get along so well, daughter. You’re so sweet. Do call mother.”

“Wh…what?”

“You’re getting married to my son, right? You should call me mother then. Plus you are the first girl my Xavi is bringing home to Mommy.”

Elaine smiled awkwardly. Of everyone seated at the table and minding their goddamn business maybe too little, Mrs. Romano was the sweetest, the prettiest. She exuded a very calm aura. She could tell that they were going to get along so…

Or maybe she should stop jumping to conclusions so fast.

“That is so sweet of you, mother.”

“Oh dear, please continue your meal.”

Just a few minutes into the meal, a fork slumped on the table harshly, heads snapping to the middle of the table, staring at Margaret with the same question in their eyes. Xavier of course continued with his meal, unbothered.

“This is sick, really sick.”

“What is sick, Margaret?” Mrs. Romano frowned.

“This, everything about this gathering is sick, especially with this girl here.” She spread her hands, gesturing to Elaine. “She’s not a part of our family, Mother so I wonder what she’s doing here. Didn’t you say that this was an immediate family gathering?”

“It is. This girl is a part of our immediate family. She’s going to be Xavier’s wife.”

“Oh my gosh, how can you be so daft? Didn’t you hear the rumors about her? She’s a big bully, a sulker at what she does.”

“Now you’re mailing this meal tiring for everyone here. Just focus on yourself because your daughter-in-law is also here and we didn’t call her out for not being part of our family.”

Margaret gasped at her words. Wasn’t her daughter a part of the family? She was Jimmy’s wife. To her, her mother was too soft-hearted to realize that Elaine was a snake.

“Ria is Jimmy’s wife so she is so much part of this family. She’s my daughter-in-law.”

“Your daughter-in-law and not mine.” Everyone flinched at the sudden yell from Mrs. Romano. Her hands collided with the table, eyes glaring daggers at her daughter.

“Cooperate or you can kiss your spot in this house goodbye.”

“Grandma,” Margaret turned to her next source of support, ignoring her mother’s warning to keep shut. “Grandmother, can you see what's going on?” Suddenly, a gasp escaped from her mouth, her hands coming around to wrap around her throat. “Oh my goodness, everyone. Xavier even gave her the family’s heirloom. They’re not even married yet.”

At her announcement, everyone’s eyes fell on the necklace around Elaine’s neck, their eyes growing wide at the Romano family heirloom that sat prettily around her neck.

Grandmother Romano only shook her head and continued her meal, unbothered at the event playing in the dining room.

“Who I choose to give the family heirloom shouldn’t concern you, dear sister,” Xavier finally spoke, his eyes carrying a deep warning. “Focus on your food unless you want to be thrown out of this mansion. Don’t forget this is no longer your home.”

At that, Margaret gritted her teeth, her fist clenching on her thighs as she swallowed the rest of her words. Elaine couldn’t help the smile that crept up her lips at the turn of events. Xavier was a pro at getting people to get their mouths shut. He was perfect at everything.

Feeling uncomfortable at the tense air in the dinner hall, she turned to the woman beside her. “May I please know where the restroom is?”

“Definitely.” She looked over to one of the servants behind her and ordered. “Take her upstairs.”

Slowly, she stood up from the chair, making her way behind the servant who led her up the stairs to the second floor. Finally, they stood before a two-slide door, the servant pushing it open before setting aside for her to go in.

“This is Xavier’s room?” She asked.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Elaine nodded, making her way into the huge bedroom. His eyes raked over the furniture. The man has the same taste in his room as he has back at their home. The furniture was almost the same. walking deeper into the room, she sat on the bed for a while, feeling how it bounced at her weight. Perfecto.

Her eyes fell on the small photo frame which lay on his bedside table. Stretching her hands, she took it, staring at the smiling older woman in the photo.

“Drop that.” Her head snapped to the door, to Xavier who she didn’t notice when he came in. He walked to her side only to snatch the photo from her and place it back on the table where it belonged. “Don’t touch anything while you’re here. Especially that photo.” His voice was stern.

“Why? It’s just a photo.”

“One you shouldn’t touch.”

Her eyes darted to stare at the lady again before returning her gaze to him. Was she perhaps his older sister? Or maybe someone closer.

Xavier turned his back to her, heading toward the door on the other side of the room. Her fingers closed around his wrist, stopping him.

“You don’t have to be angry. I didn’t know.” So much for anger issues. No one told her how easy it was to get Xavier angry. “Who is she?” She let of of his wrist.

He remained silent. “I won’t know not to go close to the photo again if you don’t tell….”

“My mother. That is my mother.”

“Wh…what?”

“You heard me, Doll.”

Her brows furrowed in confusion.

“Th…then who was the woman out there?” That was definitely his mother, right?

“My stepmother. Mother died when I was eight.”

“Oh my. I’m so sorry, I didn’t know that. The news… they never had it.”

“We tend to keep our private lives a secret here.”

She nodded in understanding. “Your mother, I mean stepmother, she’s a sweetheart and you’re close to her too.”

“She raised me, you don’t expect me to be rude to her, do you?”

“Of course not.”

She admired their relationship. From the photos of them online, she could tell that they were pretty close. If one weren’t told, they wouldn’t know they weren’t biological mother and son. How she envied such a relationship. Others were close to people who weren’t even their blood relatives but her. She has a mother but doesn’t have a mother.

It doesn't even makes sense.