The Dinner

Part Three

Despite the potentially disastrous confluence of events ahead; the night was exquisite. Dusk had settled and the night-sky was a deep and thrilling colour of indigo and violet. The stars had all come out to watch this social gathering that was filled with such portent and they glimmered with secrets untold of what was to come. A night co-ordinated by Isabel Whitman always appeared to be a night of such elegance.

Light conversation and easy going raillery between the extended family were a-plenty. Maria sat down next to Tess and smiled a little uneasily. Utter foreboding about this evening churned in side of her stomach. The stress was getting to her and it took all of her self-control to not light up a cigarette. The warm and soothing smoke beckoned to her and she wrung her hands under the table to stop herself. Tess gave Maria a questioning look but was stopped before she could say anything as Isabel started serving the dinner.

"Yo Iz, Tess is right!" Ava said in surprise, "You've really gone to the nines this time! What's this one called?" Zan nodded in agreement at his wife's remark as he resumed cutting up his steak.

Isabel beamed at Ava's compliment as Alex sat down next to her at the head of the table, "its chipotle grilled filets with mango salsa, we have a chocolate and raspberry soufflé for later and of course Amy, your delicious pies with cream. I thought it'd be nice to have something fun this evening. The kids, by demand from Tammy, are getting stuck in at the kitchen table with sausage, beans and mashed potato and they have chocolate and vanilla ice cream for dessert."

"So Izzy, what's the special occasion?" Max enquired. Everyone else's heads turned towards Isabel, their faces expectant for her announcement, they all had guessed that it was about her 2nd pregnancy.

Isabel cleared her throat and lifted her water glass. She darted one look at Maria who nodded at her with a wavering smile, they both knew that the moment had come but for some reason, looking at their faces that were beaming with such love, Isabel couldn't do it. After all of the planning and organising and fussing, she couldn't say it. Her stomach clenched up and she heard herself say instead, with a forced, brilliant smile, "Me and Alex are having another baby!"

Everyone smiled apart from Maria, their suspicions confirmed and a 'congratulations' was given from everyone. Maria waited until the initial fuss died down and without thinking; she stood up as well, shooting Isabel a resolved look.

"Hey everyone," she shifted uncomfortably, "there's actually another announcement to make," This time everyone's faces were a little worried, they knew what Maria had been through and too many of them expected more bad news, convinced that these 6 months of a shaky truce between Maria and the group was too good to be true. Maria noted these worried expressions and took a deep breath, "there is another announcement," she said and her voice rang loudly in the air, "the real reason why you all have been asked here. We have another guest who is waiting upstairs and before you say anything, please let me tell you that I am okay with it. So if I'm okay, then the least you can do is give him the benefit of the doubt." And with that she went back inside and called up the stairs, "Hey! You can come down now!"

Everyone waited, confused and eager to see who this mystery person was. Maria and Isabel felt sick with anticipation. They could hear his hesitant strides as he walked through the kitchen and out of the back door. With the fairy light shining above his head, Michael finally came into view, illuminating his fearful expression and his nervous demeanour. "Hey guys…I um…came back last night."

Silence.

Stunned, paralysed silence.

Then, without warning, Kyle sprung from his chair.

"You BASTARD!" He roared and punched Michael in the mouth, knocking him down across the patio floor. Blood spurted from the side of Michael's lip as it split from the force of Kyle's fist. "YOU FUCKING BASTARD! WHAT, YOU HADN'T HURT ENOUGH PEOPLE ALREADY?!" Kyle was on him, punching him as hard as he could, wherever he could, shouting from the top of his lungs. Maria and Isabel screamed.

Jim rushed over and pulled Kyle off Michael and quickly restrained him against the floor with his hands behind his back. He whispered quietly into Kyle's ear, "Son, don't do this. Your two boys are only in the next room; do you want them to see that? Or hear that language? You're not 16 anymore, you've grown up. You're a father and a husband. I know you care for Maria like a sister but she has been through enough, the last thing she wants to see is more violence. Okay?"

Kyle nodded. He'd forgotten about his boys. All he had seen was the same face of the two men who'd shattered his sister's spirit. He didn't help Michael back up but he did sit back down next to his loving wife and let her try to soothe him.

Alex bent down and helped Michael up as Isabel rushed off to the kitchen to find a first aid kit. Michael's face was raw and bloody, his lips were swollen and his eyes were puffy. Two of Tess' faces swam in front of him. Yep, he thought, he definitely has a concussion from that fall.

Protectively, Maria stood in front of Michael and glared fiercely down at the table. "Don't any of you ever listen to me? I know you're all angry and hurt, so much has happened, but for god's sake, I think we've had enough violence to last us a lifetime! You can't blame Michael for how I lived my life after he left. You just can't! Yes I went through hell, yes you all had to sit there and fucking watch me, which hurt you too," Maria was crying but she hadn't noticed, the tears just rolled down her face as she continued her speech. "But face it - it wasn't Michael's fault! It was my own! Be angry at those who did physically hurt me, my ex was the one who put me in hospital. But that wasn't Michael's fault! That was his. Don't blame Michael for being 16 and wanting to be somewhere else. We've all changed since then, we've all grown up and taken responsibility for our irresponsible actions and so has Michael. So please, deal with it and eat the damn food that Isabel worked so hard over." Maria helped Michael to his chair and started to nurse his wounds as he shamefacedly looked down at his lap.

Isabel smiled at Maria's fire; it was so nice to see it back, her strength always amazed her. She truly was a rara avis.

Amy wasn't smiling. In fact, Amy hadn't said a word while all of this was happening. Once Maria had sat down, she stood up. Everyone turned nervously to watch her – the tension was so thick that it would take more than a knife to cut through it. But Amy didn't do anything, say anything. Amy just put her jacket back on, walked past the row of terrified family members, through Isabel's house and straight out of the front door. In total silence. Then, the sound of a car leaving the premises could be heard; the tyres screeching as they roared down the street.

The silence continued for a moment, no-one knowing exactly what to say to this impromptu chaos, until a quiet giggle infiltrated the hush.

Everyone turned to the source of the noise; Max sat there with his hand over his face, silently shaking. Another giggle fell from his lips, one that quickly erupted into a hysteric gale of belly-laughter. Maria's heart fluttered, worried that this final piece of news had sent Max over the edge. After all, Max had pretty much thrown his whole life away to search for Michael for the past 8 years and hadn't ever found him.

Kyle frowned. "Man, are you okay? I don't think this is the time to laugh. This is some heavy shit going down here."

Max laughed a little more, but managed to compose himself and then he looked up at Isabel and wiped tears from his eyes, "I saw Michael last night too. I found him but he looked so happy that I decided to just leave. I was going to tell you but I thought maybe it would be best after dinner…."

Michael raised his head slowly, his face was covered in shades of blue and purple and he winced at the small, painful movement. "I knew you were there. You're the reason why I came back last night, you looked so tired…so I decided to come back to face what I'd left behind. I didn't realise I would miss so much. It's just the longer I stayed away, the harder it was to come back. Mostly because I..er..." Michael surveyed those who were listening, "knew I'd come back to this."

He then looked a little harder at the dinner guests. Over at the end of the table there was Max; with his leather coat on the back of a chair and his slightly greying floppy brown hair. Yet opposite him, something he hadn't noticed while he was being pummelled by Kyle, there was another Max. Only this one had many facial piercings and a goatee.

"What the…" The Other Max smirked and gave him a small wave.

Michael swayed uneasily on his chair, his eyes rolled backwards...and suddenly the Other Max's face was being replaced by budding darkness…

Authors Note:

Dizzy Moon: Thanks for the Fb :D I hope the anticipation hasn't killed you before you can read this. I finally wrote the damn scene lol

Magali: Ahhh Magali, I will never stop writing this. I may take a 3 year break lol but trust me I will never stop. Even if in the en donly you and AgathaN are the only ones reading heheh. Well as you may see, Amy's murdering may happen later. I hope you're not disappointed after waiting so long.

AgathaN: Yay I'm back XD and it's lovely to hear from you again hugs I'm glad you enjoyed the new chapter, and I especially hope you liked this one...its a little brief but I couldn't have too many explosive reactions in one go. Would have killed me trying to write that :D