Commencement Exercises

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Well, well, well here we are again!

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7

Several hundred snaps and a raucous walk home later they were back at the apartment. Massie seemed to have fully forgiven her aunt, holding her hand all the way home, much to Sandy's jealousy. On arrival the Nana disappeared into the kitchen and Sandy volunteered his services there. Kirsten knew better than to follow suit and sat a little awkwardly watching Bill feed Max and Jess help Massie with her knife and fork until her sister-in-law took pity on her.

'How about you come help with bath time?' she offered.

'Um…'

'Good experience.'

Kirsten smiled ruefully. 'Yeah, okay.'

In the event all she ended up doing was learning how to test the water temperature with her elbow and then playing with Massie as she had a sea battle in the bath. Bill and Jess bathed their son. They then handed him over to a silently screaming Kirsten whilst they fought with Massie who did not want to get out of the bath at all costs. The small bathroom became even more crowded once Massie was finally out of bath and hopping around crossly so she slid out pleading with the baby not to cry. No such luck; Max did not appreciate being held by this anxious stranger.

'Sandy?' Kirsten called nervously, jogging the baby on her hip awkwardly. 'Sandy?'

He heard her voice amidst the baby's squalls and hurried into the hallway.

'I really don't think he likes me,' she whimpered, eyes betraying the joke.

Sandy reached for Max who immediately settled down in his Uncle's arms and began to gurgle. 'You've got to relax honey,' he told her. 'Babies don't like to feel as though you're about to drop them.'

Kirsten sighed. 'You're gonna be such a wonderful father…and me, our kid's gonna hate me.'

'Aw no, come on sweetie,' he reasoned with her, leaning over Max's head to kiss his wife. 'You will be just fine. Think how much Massie likes you.'

As if on cue Massie appeared from the bathroom and sidled up to her. 'Mommy said you would read me a story Auntie K.'

'Auntie K' smiled and took the proffered hand. 'Sure thing sweetie, what would you like?'

She glanced back at her husband as the little girl drew her away; he was smiling as if to say 'see'. She smiled back. At least one of them was good with babies. Too bad that bit came first.

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Half an hour later the children were in bed and dinner was ready. It was obviously too much to ask for to have two peaceful dinners in a row because it was hellish from the moment they all sat down. The Nana began by pointing out what each person had done to help. 'Sandy grilled the steaks, Bill has folded the napkins, Jess made a cheesecake for desert and Kirsten…well, Kirsten has graced us with her presence.'

Her daughter-in-law flushed. 'I would have helped it's just I didn't want to ruin the special dinner.'

'Yes, you do have a point. However it would have been polite.'

Kirsten sighed, she knew she couldn't win.

The digs, increasingly unsubtle, continued throughout the meal leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. Jess seemed to be restraining herself, only occasionally agreeing with her mother but Sandy seemed oblivious to it all. It wasn't that she minded; she was trying her hardest to ignore her mother-in-law as well, but a sympathetic smile every now and then wouldn't go amiss.

Dave was the only other person who seemed to pick up on how uncomfortable things were getting. She was steeling herself to stay put, desperately watching the clock and willing this painful charade to be over when he suddenly burst out, interrupting his mother's latest tirade.

'Stop picking on Kirsten, this is my graduation dinner. I don't want any fights.'

'Davey,' Sandy cautioned.

'Don't,' he retorted to his brother. 'You're not sticking up for her and she's your wife. You let ma walk all over her just like she does you.'

He stood up.

'Where do you think you're going?' Sophie asked, eyes narrowed.
'I have a party to go to.'

Davey, please don't,' Kirsten spoke up for the first time. 'Please, sit down and finish dinner.'

'Why do you let them do this? Why do you think they're better than you, that you have to be submissive?'

'I-I don't…'

'No, Kirsten thinks she is better than us.'

'Ma! For one night can't you at least be civil? I'll finish dinner because Kirsten asked and then I'm going.'

The meal continued in silence, Dave shovelling food into his mouth as quickly as possible, the Nana eating as though she didn't have a care in the world and Sandy pushing his dinner aimlessly round his plate. No one commented when several tears fell, rather obviously, into Kirsten's gravy. Immediately after dessert Dave left without saying goodbye and Kirsten tried to repair relations by offering to doing the washing up.

'If you're sure you won't break a nail,' Sophie responded.

'Ma,' Sandy warned and his wife turned to him.

'Just don't bother Sandy.'

'What?'

'You know.'

Jess and Bill looked awkward and Sophie frankly excited by the idea of a domestic about to blow up in the kitchen.

'What?' Sandy looked round at his family questioningly. Bill hurriedly excused himself whilst Jess rolled her eyes at her brother.

'Dave's right Sandy. I might not be Kirsten's biggest fan but even I think you let mom go too far.'

'Jessica!' Sophie chastised.'

'Sorry ma but you know it's true. You love giving her a hard time.'

Sophie gave a loud 'humph' but didn't deny it.

'Let's give them a bit of privacy,' Jess continued, dragging her mother out of the kitchen, much to Mrs Cohen's annoyance.

Kirsten had been at the sink throughout this exchange and didn't turn round, continuing to wash the crockery in hurt silence.

'Sweetheart…'

No answer.

'Honey?'

If he thought she was gonna respond to that he had another thing coming.

'Kirsten baby?'

'Just dry the dishes Sandy.'

He sighed, moving to the draining board and doing as she ordered. After several minutes of silence he was getting antsy. 'Kirsten?' he tried again.

'Mmm?

He sidled closer to her. 'I'm sorry.'

'Yeah me too. Sorry I came.'

'Darling…she doesn't mean it.'

'Firstly she does and secondly I don't care about your mother.'

'You don't?'

'No. I can live with that, even at the moment when it upsets me more than usual. What annoys me is the fact the rest of your family notice how horrible she is to me and yet you just let it go, don't even mention it. I know it's not your fault and I'm not expecting you to change it…you could just…acknowledge it more often, at least pretend to be on my side.'

'I am on your side.'

'Well it doesn't feel like it. I knew this was a bad idea.'

'What was?'

'Coming here. Your mother is getting exactly what she wanted. I knew she'd find some way to make us fight.'

'Aw come on, we're not fighting.'

'Yes we are.'

'Oh.'

'Look, I don't want to fight about this. I know my dad is just as awful, if not worse to you…'

'I get it. You always defend me to your father, try to protect me, and yet I more often than not just let my mother get away with everything.'

'I don't want to destroy your relationship with her any more than I have already I just…'

'It's okay, I can work things out with her.'

'Well, good luck with that, I'll see you in the next life.'

'Kirsten!'

'I was kidding.'

'Are we okay then?'

'Yeah. Despite your mother's best efforts.'

'I'm sorry.'

'You don't have to apologise any more.'

'How about I kiss you instead?'

'That works.'

And so he did.

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It was the icy glares his mother was flashing in Kirsten's direction that made Sandy realise something was up, that and the numbness of his left arm which his wife was resting on. The conclusion was that she was asleep. He glanced at her and smiled lovingly at her sleeping face.

'Well Kirsten's beat,' he declared jovially. 'And she needs her sleep so I think I'll just take her to bed.'

No one answered, tired themselves, and Sandy bent over to scoop his wife into his arms. She mumbled incoherently and looped her arms around his neck. He loved how she did that, clung onto him even in her sleep.

Sandy's eyes met those of his mother over Kirsten's head as he carried her out of the room. Sophie was looking distinctly unimpressed and he had to control his temper. Kirsten was exhausted from carrying his mother's grandchild and from that damn uncomfortable sofa bed; she couldn't be blamed for falling asleep halfway through Bill's monologue about his business. Sandy had felt his own eyelids drooping.

She roused a little as Sandy set her down on the bed, removing most of her clothes before tucking her into it. 'Oh I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to fall asleep.'

'It's okay,' he hushed her. 'Close those pretty eyes again sweetie.' His wife nodded innocently, snuggling against him as she drifted off again and making it twice as hard to contemplate going back downstairs. After a moment's deliberation he stripped lethargically to his boxers and crawled in beside his wife, cuddling her close against him so they could both fit into the single bed, one hand cupping her bump, his thumb stroking it gently. Let his mother stew downstairs, there was no way he was moving.

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So, are we still all happy? Look out for some fireworks soon!

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