‘Whaaaaaat?’ Ashton gasped in mock disbelief.
Across from the dinner table, his sister glared at him, probably due to his over-acting. But his mother didn’t seem to notice.
‘That’s right’ she gleamed merrily. ‘We’ve found a lovely man who is willing to take you. Won’t that be wonderful!’
‘Aha’ Ashton laughed awkwardly, trying to sound nonchalant. ‘That would be um…. interesting.’
His mother frowned at him slightly, raising an eyebrow.
‘Ashton’ his mother spoke in a stern and disapproving voice. ‘You know how important this is don’t you?’
‘Yes’ Ashton fumbled quickly. ‘Of…of course I do.’
‘And you’re excited about it aren’t you?’ his mother prompted.
‘Yes’ Ashton answered hesitantly.
‘And anyway’ his mother continued enthusiastically, turning towards her husband, ‘attending another wedding would be in all of our interests! It is always a wonderful thing to have our family gathered together! Its just a shame that we all live so far apart. Oh, it would be so wonderful to see all our nieces and nephews again.’ His mother shrieked then, which did not alarm anyone. ‘Alicia! You could bring your children! Ashton has not met then yet and…oh it would be so wonderful to see them!’
‘They are too young to travel’ Alicia said to her mother with a frown, the same frown that Maya had given Ashton not moments before.
Mother and daughter were the same in so many ways, and Ashton had wondered if Alicia would one day become as excited and frantic as their mother. One day it may happen, but not yet. It had not happened yet.
Ashton bowed his head as he continued to cut his food, wondering briefly then what his sisters’ children would grow to be like. Would they be more like their mother, or grandmother?
‘Why can’t you bring the children?’ Maya protested in despair, as beside her Isaac continued to drink heavily from the wine bottle.
‘It would be too stressful for them’ Alicia answered stubbornly back. ‘And besides’ she said with a grin, reaching forwards to grasp another bottle of wine, pouring more into her glass. ‘Its nice to get away from them every once in a while.’
‘Now now’ Isaac spoke up at last, putting down the now empty bottle and turning his hawk-eyes onto Ashton. ‘Let’s not forget the important matter.’
‘Oh yes! The wedding’ Maya cried out then in shock. ‘Ashton’ she glowered. ‘Were you trying to distract me? Well it won’t work.’
Ashton paused for a moment, fork lifted into the air. ‘I…didn’t do anything’ he spoke weakly.
‘We need to talk about the wedding’ Isaac spoke sternly to him.
‘What’s to talk about?’ Ashton asked. ‘You’re arranging it all right?’
‘Of course we are’ Maya and Isaac both spoke simultaneously, giving a look to Ashton as if he had just told them that the sky was blue….or that he was gay.
‘We are actually really good at weddings. And oh what excitement it will be!’ Maya clapped her hands with a giggle. ‘I just cannot wait!’
‘So um…’ Ashton began reluctantly, not wanting to hear the answer but resigning himself. ‘When uh…when is the wedding?’
‘At the end of the month’ his mother said slyly, leaning forwards on the table with her arms cross.
‘What?’
‘What?’ she echoed Ashton innocently.
‘At the end of this month?’ Ashton spoke weakly.
‘It makes it all the more fun’ Isaac wagged his finger at his son.
‘What? But…’ Ashton trailed off hopelessly.
‘Oh come on Ashton’ his mother gleamed at him, putting her hands splayed on the table and rising, ‘its so much more fun this way don’t you think? There’s no point in dwelling on it’ she continued, turning and walking away, Isaac following by her side. ‘As soon as we found him we decided on the earliest date. That should be enough time for the guests to arrive, we are inviting as many as we can. All the family will come!’
‘Where are you going?’ Ashton called out after his parents.
‘We’re going to the roof’ Isaac replied in his bellowing voice.
‘The roof? But why?’
‘We’re making a little den there’ his mother wagged a finger at him playfully. ‘But you’re not allowed to go there, this is just meant for me and your father.’ She grasped his arm then, hugging it tightly. ‘We’re going to have tea and cakes and sleep under the stars…’ she swooned then, eyes deep and distant.
‘My love’ Isaac soothed then, cupping her face. ‘I cannot wait for night to fall’ he said, as both Ashton and Alicia turned away wordlessly, used to their antics. ‘We should bring a telescope and search for star constellations…we should do it by candlelight.’
‘Or moonlight’ Maya breathed, holding his in turn, leaning into him. ‘If there are no clouds.’
‘Oh gosh!’ Isaac said. ‘What if there are too many clouds?!’
‘Its ok my love’ Maya went on, as their children ignored them, ‘we can do origami.’
‘By candlelight?’ Isaac asked.
‘By candlelight’ Maya repeated, her eyes warm and full of love and adoration.
Isaac lifted Maya up then, sitting her atop his shoulder as she squealed in delight.
He walked off then, carrying her with him.
Silence ensued, and a few of the servants who had been waiting at the edges of the large room stepped forwards then to begin clearing the table.
Ashton glanced up then, ignoring the servants who milled quietly around as he opened his mouth to speak to Alicia.
‘His name was Edmund wasn’t it?’
‘Yes’ Alicia spoke quietly, ‘he’s only a little older than you.’
‘When…when is he coming? It will be a few days before the wedding won’t it?’
‘I don’t know.’
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