Chapter One: The Uneasy Dinner
Mary shuffled in her seat in the Camden dining room like she had done many times before, just as she had when she had grown up in that house. It was a similar feeling to when she had fidgeted in her seat trying to avoid her parents' eyes for breaking a window or making out with some guy. She felt that same uneasy feeling as her stomach turned over and she felt every pair of eyes drift towards her with disdainful looks in their eyes. The same disapproving looks that they had sent her ever since the night of her arrest, four years ago.
Softly, she squeezed Carlos' hand as she glanced at her husband. As he smiled back at her with his warm grin, she felt a wave of relief circulate through her body and the tension start to disappear. He was so perfect for her and had helped her so much. It was just so nice to have someone who supported her and offered her unconditional love, someone who would let her know that everything would work out and ease her nerves about becoming a mother. She could just dissolve into his warm arms and feel that anything was possible. She hadn't had anyone else do that for her for so long.
In fact it was due to Carlos that she had come to visit her family, biting her tongue about past events and learning to forgive and give them another chance. Her last visit should have been a joyful occasion as she told her parents she was giving them their first grandchild in just seven months. Instead, she had received a tense, cold, strained welcome, a similar atmosphere to the current one, as they all focused and fussed around Simon and forgot that she had flown across the country. Of that occasion, she can only remember the dog being happy to see her.
Mary looked down the table as she saw her mother bring out a large chicken and felt a huge wave of nausea as she felt her nose wrinkle up at the smell.
"Could you keep the chicken down at the other end of the table please?" She said to her mother. "I'm having a real problem with poultry at the moment."
Carlos turned to her and kissed her on the forehead as he shot her a concerned look and whispered. "Esta bien?"
"Si," Mary replied as she felt her body tense again and the disapproving looks sink into her and a series of muttering start. "It's just my morning, noon and evening sickness is getting set off so easily at the moment."
Mary felt Carlos' warm hand rubbing her back to help the tension that was building up. A tension she had got just for justifying herself to her family just because she was having problems with her pregnancy. She felt the level of resentment grow. They should helping her instead of criticizing her every move while praising her siblings.
She felt a small level of uncertainty creep into her as she looked back at her family. No matter what she did she was always going to be seen as the black sheep as the efforts of her siblings were highlighted. So much for the virtue of forgiveness, to treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.
"Did everyone see Simon's acceptance video?" Annie asked as she ignored her oldest daughter's comment and started serving out the food. "He portrayed everyone so well."
"Things have changed so much," Eric agreed. "And I'm so proud of the way that Simon has not let things ruin his life and kept focused."
The dinner continued with the praising of Simon's video, if she ever got hold of Simon for the things that he had said about her, she'd kill him. No job! She was the only Camden that had actually held down a job for the past two years. She had a normal well-managed life. Then they followed on a discussion of Ruthie's latest high grades, the support for Lucy's return to Habitat for Humanity, and the latest news from Matt.
Mary watched as she felt the wave of nausea creep over her again and the smell become intolerable. Along with the constant praise of all of her siblings and the ignoring of herself was the increased sickness moving from stomach to her mouth. She felt things start to combine and she began to feel worse.
"I'm sorry," Mary said as she glanced over at Carlos before getting to her feet and clutching her stomach. "It's the chicken."
Carlos' eyes followed his wife as she sprinted out of the room and he noticed the series of eyes that had followed Mary look at him. He felt an instant need to follow her up the stairs and check that she was okay, but felt the glares of the other Camdens for an explanation.
Lucy offered a small smile as she shot Carlos a concerned look and asked, "Is she okay?"
"Yeah, she's just having a rough pregnancy at the moment." Carlos explained as he smiled back at Lucy sensing some genuine concern. Mary had told him that she used to have a very close relationship with Lucy. He got to his own feet. "Now if you'd excuse me."
Next chapter: Mary overhears some of Annie's thoughts about her 'stupid' life.
Mary shuffled in her seat in the Camden dining room like she had done many times before, just as she had when she had grown up in that house. It was a similar feeling to when she had fidgeted in her seat trying to avoid her parents' eyes for breaking a window or making out with some guy. She felt that same uneasy feeling as her stomach turned over and she felt every pair of eyes drift towards her with disdainful looks in their eyes. The same disapproving looks that they had sent her ever since the night of her arrest, four years ago.
Softly, she squeezed Carlos' hand as she glanced at her husband. As he smiled back at her with his warm grin, she felt a wave of relief circulate through her body and the tension start to disappear. He was so perfect for her and had helped her so much. It was just so nice to have someone who supported her and offered her unconditional love, someone who would let her know that everything would work out and ease her nerves about becoming a mother. She could just dissolve into his warm arms and feel that anything was possible. She hadn't had anyone else do that for her for so long.
In fact it was due to Carlos that she had come to visit her family, biting her tongue about past events and learning to forgive and give them another chance. Her last visit should have been a joyful occasion as she told her parents she was giving them their first grandchild in just seven months. Instead, she had received a tense, cold, strained welcome, a similar atmosphere to the current one, as they all focused and fussed around Simon and forgot that she had flown across the country. Of that occasion, she can only remember the dog being happy to see her.
Mary looked down the table as she saw her mother bring out a large chicken and felt a huge wave of nausea as she felt her nose wrinkle up at the smell.
"Could you keep the chicken down at the other end of the table please?" She said to her mother. "I'm having a real problem with poultry at the moment."
Carlos turned to her and kissed her on the forehead as he shot her a concerned look and whispered. "Esta bien?"
"Si," Mary replied as she felt her body tense again and the disapproving looks sink into her and a series of muttering start. "It's just my morning, noon and evening sickness is getting set off so easily at the moment."
Mary felt Carlos' warm hand rubbing her back to help the tension that was building up. A tension she had got just for justifying herself to her family just because she was having problems with her pregnancy. She felt the level of resentment grow. They should helping her instead of criticizing her every move while praising her siblings.
She felt a small level of uncertainty creep into her as she looked back at her family. No matter what she did she was always going to be seen as the black sheep as the efforts of her siblings were highlighted. So much for the virtue of forgiveness, to treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.
"Did everyone see Simon's acceptance video?" Annie asked as she ignored her oldest daughter's comment and started serving out the food. "He portrayed everyone so well."
"Things have changed so much," Eric agreed. "And I'm so proud of the way that Simon has not let things ruin his life and kept focused."
The dinner continued with the praising of Simon's video, if she ever got hold of Simon for the things that he had said about her, she'd kill him. No job! She was the only Camden that had actually held down a job for the past two years. She had a normal well-managed life. Then they followed on a discussion of Ruthie's latest high grades, the support for Lucy's return to Habitat for Humanity, and the latest news from Matt.
Mary watched as she felt the wave of nausea creep over her again and the smell become intolerable. Along with the constant praise of all of her siblings and the ignoring of herself was the increased sickness moving from stomach to her mouth. She felt things start to combine and she began to feel worse.
"I'm sorry," Mary said as she glanced over at Carlos before getting to her feet and clutching her stomach. "It's the chicken."
Carlos' eyes followed his wife as she sprinted out of the room and he noticed the series of eyes that had followed Mary look at him. He felt an instant need to follow her up the stairs and check that she was okay, but felt the glares of the other Camdens for an explanation.
Lucy offered a small smile as she shot Carlos a concerned look and asked, "Is she okay?"
"Yeah, she's just having a rough pregnancy at the moment." Carlos explained as he smiled back at Lucy sensing some genuine concern. Mary had told him that she used to have a very close relationship with Lucy. He got to his own feet. "Now if you'd excuse me."
Next chapter: Mary overhears some of Annie's thoughts about her 'stupid' life.