There are dinners in which people give bread.
And, there are evenings when judgment is passed.
Unfortunately...
The Blackwoods excelled in the second type.
---
The invitation was received on a Tuesday morning.
Not by text.
Not by phone.
A gold embossed, cream colored envelope with the Blackwood family crest.
The paper was costly, too.
I held it up in my hands before I opened it.
There was only one card inside.
> We would be delighted to have you join the Blackwood Family for dinner on Friday evening.
>
> Presented by Victoria Blackwood.
>
> Attendance requested.
Requested.
I smiled to myself.
This was no request.
It was as if he was calling her to his place.
---
That evening, I gave the invitation to Ethan when he came home.
His smile was gone as soon as he read his mother's name.
I never realised she was doing this!
I took it for granted that you did," I said.
He shook his head.
"No."
He took the card in his hand and read it again before exhaling slowly.
"I'm sorry."
I frowned.
"It was not sent by you."
"I know."
I know my mother," he said.
He was sitting next to me on the sofa.
"When she cooks dinner, it is for a reason."
I recalled Veronica's admonition.
She doesn't wrestle vocally.
She fights patiently.
My heart shot ice-cold.
"Do we have to go?"
Ethan didn't respond right away.
Instead, he took my hand, though.
"If I refuse..."
"It's going to be another war, she will make it..."
"And if we go?"
He was tracing slow circles with his thumb on my knuckles.
"Let's go together then."
---
Friday evening came way too soon.
I was standing in front of the mirror trying on the soft emerald maternity dress Harper had insisted on wearing to make me look great.
"You look nervous."
A voice could be heard in the doorway.
"I am."
He walked over and delicately pushed a strand behind my ear.
"There's no need to impress anybody tonight."
I don't care to please your mother.
"No?"
I smiled weakly.
I'm afraid that I will let myself down.
His forehead creased.
"What do you mean?"
I don't want her to be different.
I took a moment to gaze upon myself.
I don't want to get defensive.
"Or bitter."
Or someone who tries to prove his or her place all night long.
I found myself looking in his eyes in the mirror.
"I've spent too much of my life doing that already."
He just gazed at me for a long time.
After that, he softly told her,
You belong, because you're my wife.
I turned to face him.
"No."
I took his hand.
I belong, I belong because I'm Grace.
Slowly he spread a smile on his face.
"I stand corrected."
---
The Blackwood estate was just as it had been in my memories.
Perfect.
Immaculate.
Cold.
The type of house that struck up the admiration of strangers, but never their invitation.
A butler opened up the front door.
Mr and Mrs Blackwood.
It still didn't sound right.
In the interior, crystal chandeliers cast a soft glow over the smooth marble floors.
Atop the site were some of the guests who mingled quietly with glasses of champagne.
Board members.
Family friends.
Some distant relations.
We were caught by Harper.
"There you are!"
Before I'd wedged me gently in her arms and whispered,
Don't accept the lobster, if Mom offers it to you.
I blinked.
"What?"
It's not so good.
I laughed, if I did not laugh, myself.
You traveled all the way to tell me about seafood?
"I'm protecting you."
She grinned.
Ethan lived in this house because I had him.
---
Victoria even went down the enormous staircase as if she had timed us perfectly.
She was dressed in an elegant navy evening gown that somehow looked both intimidating and elegant.
"Grace."
Her smile was a perfect smile.
"Ethan."
"Mother."
His tone was courteous.
Nothing more.
Victoria's gaze darted to my tummy.
"You look... comfortable."
I had to take a moment to catch on to what she was saying.
Comfortable.
Not beautiful.
Not radiant.
Just...
Comfortable.
I smiled pleasantly.
Pregnancy has made me understand the importance of comfort.
"I imagine it has."
There it was.
The first taste of the night.
So small that no one else would notice it.
Sharp as to feel it.
---
Meals were eaten in the formal dining room.
The table was too long to be possible.
I was sitting between the Ethan and one of his old uncles.
Victoria sat at the other end, the queen in her court.
Conversation began harmlessly.
Business.
Travel.
Politics.
Then, as if she'd been waiting patiently for the right moment, Victoria turned toward me.
"So, Grace..."
It was easy for her voice to cross the table.
"How is your little design business coming along?"
I set down my fork.
My portfolio is still in the process of being developed.
"How lovely."
She smiled.
"It's very rewarding to have a hobby."
A number of guests glanced at their plates.
I sensed that Ethan was getting tense next to me.
"It's not a hobby."
His voice was calm.
"It's her career."
Victoria snorted a laugh.
"Of course."
I just wanted to say, "Once the baby comes into this world..."
She held up her glass for a drink.
"Motherhood will take up a lot of your time I'm sure."
---
Before I could answer, Harper spoke.
In fact, Grace's designs are amazing.
Victoria didn't even look at her daughter.
"Sure they are."
Then she smiled to me again.
It must be good not to be the head of an international corporation, she said.
The implication was in the air.
That my work was null.That my work didn't mean much.
But I had more modest aspirations that my ambitions were smaller.
I would always have to come second to my contribution to the family.
For a moment...
The old "Grace" would have curled up into a ball.
The Grace who never felt like he was welcome.The Grace who felt like he had to work for it.
But the woman was slowly vanishing.
I folded my napkin in a proper manner before I spoke.
I believe pressure is present in all the meaningful jobs, I think.
Victoria rocked her head back and forth.
"Oh?"
I nodded.
Designing a house is about "Designing a Safe Place.
I smiled gently.
But that duty doesn't get written in the newspaper will not appear on the news covers.
"But it does make a difference in people's lives."
The silence suddenly descended upon the room.
Even Ethan looked down at me quietly with his admiration.
---
Victoria recovered quickly.
I'm happy that you have something he does that makes you feel fulfilled.
"I have."
"And I am thankful that Ethan is able to offer me such stability."
I looked at Ethan.
Then, back to Victoria.
"So am I."
I smiled warmly.
"And he's just as thankful when I tell him that there is life after work.
Harper coughed to conceal a laugh in her napkin.
Both of Ethan's uncles smiled.Both of Ethan's uncles smiled.
Victoria's face was as calm as ever.
But I felt the slight pucker in her jaw.
One of the older family members peered at Ethan as they were eating dessert.
I can't remember when I last saw you so relaxed.
How is it that things have changed?
Ethan was about to respond, when Victoria spoke with a smoothness,
He's definitely changed his life's priorities since getting married.
The way she said this there was something.
If not "altered," then "damaged.
It was heard by all.
No one recognized it.
Then quietly Ethan set his spoon aside.
"It has."
The silence filled the room.
Prior to his gaze landing on me, he scanned the table.
"For the better."
I wasn't prepared for him to actually say it aloud.
Not here.
It is not done in the public eye.
His hand was under the table, touching mine.
Warm.
Steady.
Certain.
For years, I thought that success meant no slowing down, but that was not the case.
He wrapped his hands in mine.
"I was wrong."
Victoria's smile finally faltered.
Guests were drawn to have coffee outside after dinner, in the terrace.
I went out for some fresh air.
The air on my skin was cool and chilling.
The French doors were behind me.
I thought it was Ethan.
Instead...
It was Victoria.
She was standing next to me, gazing over the gardens.
We both were silent for a few moments.
Finally, she whispered quietly,
What you did do well tonight.
It seemed like a compliment.
Almost.
I have gotten great teachers.
Victoria glanced at me.
"My son?"
I shook my head.
"No."
I smiled softly.
"Life."
Victoria looked away.
You will have to make use of all the lessons it has to offer."
Before I could react she started to walk back inside.
She left her voice in the night air.
Not quite a threat.
Not quite advice.
Something a lot more serious.
A reminder.
This fight between us had not yet been over.
It had merely transferred to a more obscure front.
As I placed my hand over the softness of my stomach I knew something.
Victoria's intentions of getting rid of me were not to continue to attempt to get rid of me.
She was attempting to make me feel like I didn't belong.
This time...
I wasn't going to let her succeed