CW: Swearing.
“I’m sorry, you’re what?”
Jade looked sideways at Elsie, “We’re dating. For like 8 months now. We figured it was time to tell you all.”
In the corner of a small restaurant, 7 people crowd around a table. Food is steaming, sending up good smells, but has suddenly been forgotten.
Jade’s mother, Nikki; father, Bruce; and stepdad, Tom, sit on one side, continuing their seemingly endless quest to blend the family whether their kids want to or not (they don’t, that’s why none of the half-siblings are invited). All three of them are wide-eyed. Of all the stunts Jade has pulled before, this is somehow the worst. They look wildly around at each other, silently asking “Did you know?” And “How did this happen?” None have any answers.
Elsie’s pop, Mart; and dad, Yan, sit on another side, both holding their forks halfway to their mouths, identical wilting pasta falling back into identical bowls. As their only child, who has never introduced a dating partner to them before, this should be quite the occasion, but somehow it just doesn’t work.
Mart turns to his brother, and raises his eyebrows in a question.
Bruce shakes his head. He had no idea either.
Time stretches, encompassing all seven in a bubble of silence and stillness, before rushing back in a single moment as Nikki becomes the first to vocalise:
“WHAT?!”
Is all she says, but the silence is now real, as the other diners look over in gossipy curiosity, glad to halt their own dinner conversation for the chance at a story to share from this day onwards.
But this is the only thing said, for now, and soon the place fills again with the sound of chatter and silverware.
Nikki’s face and neck are bright red with the effort of keeping her voice low as she speaks slowly and clearly, “You. Are. Cousins. Your. Fathers. Are. Brothers. You. Cannot. Be. Serious.”
Jade and Elsie look at each other and shrug.
“Well we are,” Elsie says. “And we’re old enough to make that choice. This dinner wasn’t to give you the chance to get in the way of it, we just thought it was time for you all to know. If you can’t keep from shouting or lecturing us, then we’ll leave now and you can say whatever you please behind our backs.”
“Always the wordy one,” Elsie’s pop murmurs. “Stay. We, at least,” he indicates himself and Yan, “Want to… Uh…”
“Understand,” Yan puts in.
“Right!” Mart says, gratefully.
Nikki glares at them both.
They studiously ignore her.
She turns her glare to the men on her side of the table instead, “Well??”
As this is going on, Elsie pats her pockets and brings out a phone. She presses the side button and swears softly when nothing happens.
“What’s…going on?” Jade murmurs.
“Is your phone charged?”
“Yeah…” Jade gets it out and offers it.
“Oh, thank you! Thank you.”
“What’re you doing?” Nikki blares over the table.
Tom tries to pat Nikki’s arm soothingly, but when she turns her glare on him, he quickly retreats.
“Uh. Just had a thought. I need to make a note of it,” Elsie waves her hand vaguely, attention very much elsewhere.
“I’m sorry, but is that really more important than this?” Mart asks gently, though his tone is firm.
“No, of course not, it’ll just-gimme a second.”
“Hon…” Jade gently pries her phone out of Elsie’s hands.
“But I had-” Elsie looks around the table and quiets. Clearly nobody here is going to care about the story idea she wants to note down.
The meal continues, mostly in silence.As they leave, without dessert, everyone exchanges awkward goodbyes. Even Nikki, though her glare has not yet subsided. She is practically carried away by Tom before she can begin hectoring. He, at least, understands the reason for the public place. Nikki will calm down, and then maybe she can talk to them, but not before. Meanwhile, he will take whatever she needs to give.
It is Yan who hugs them both tightly, whispering, “I don’t totally get it, but I’m on your side, I love you both. Let them get over the shock, and I’ll work on Mart. It’ll be fine.”
Left to their own devices, Elsie and Jade go back to Jade’s car.
“Well that went… Actually better than I expected,” says Jade with relief.
Elsie, however, is quiet and sighs, looking out of the window.
“Hey, hon, talk to me?”
Elsie looks over and takes Jade’s proffered hand, “It’s fine, I just… I forgot what that fucking story idea was.”
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