Prior Engagements

I could not function properly for a moment. The news shook me like an earthquake. Me, an aunt? I figured that some day in the not-so-distant future this would occur. Alfie had always been so carefree as a child. Now, he would be a parent.

"Venia?" I asked cautiously.

He nodded silently. I understood her hesitation to follow our plan. If something happened to Alfie, she would have to raise their child alone. Well, Seneca and I would undoubtedly help.

"Does Seneca know?" I asked again.

"He figured it out when we left. He has given me his blessing. We are to be married before the baby arrives," Alfie cheered a bit at this.

"That is tremendous," I cheered.

Thoughts flashed through my head. My brother, the silly child that became my best friend throughout my former years, was to become both a father and a husband. Joy filled the confusion. Further, I was to become sister-in-law to the woman who helped me get through one of the most difficult times of my life.

"I am so happy for you," I touched him gently on the shoulder.

"Thank you," he smiled.

He looked rough. I pictured him figuring out Venia's conundrum, deciding to propose, and then leaving. He had left her to be with me. He stayed with me, though he could move on with a better life elsewhere.

"You are not happy, though," I observed.

He shuffled his feet indifferently. His hands shook as he began to pace the floor. Anticipation, anxiousness, despair, something filled his mind.

"What is it?" I asked concerned.

"How am I going to do this?" he radiated nervousness in a way that it seemed to bounce off the walls, "I cannot leave her. I am not ready for this. I, of course, do not regret anything. This is such a horrid predicament. Just another way that mother and father have ruined something wonderful for me."

"Do not say that," I ordered, "It is not their fault for our state. If she means what she truly does to you, then leave. Seneca and I can handle this. If anything happened to you, where would Venia be? She needs you, Alfie. Go be the man that I know you are. Go get your girl."

Neither of us took the other lightly. He regarded my words with a guiding light. It almost seemed as if he hoped that I would say this.

"Effie," he started.

"Alfie," I repeated.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

I knew that this was it. With my blessing, he would leave. He would be gone, forever if something bad happened at the President's mansion.

"I am," I answered back, "I love you. Do what is right."

"Thank you," he said with the first genuine smile that I had seen all day.

"Go on!" I pushed him jokingly out the door, "Right now. Do not leave her alone."

He collected his few possessions from around the room. I called him a cab, waking up a disgruntled driver in the process. He had regained a strut of happiness in his gait. I spoke to him with excited whispers about his future child. We discussed names, genders, and Venia. When the time came for him to leave, he paused at the edifice.

"You know, you are so full of love. I just know everything will be all right. If anyone can save this family, it is you, Effie. Best of luck to you and Seneca. Call me if you need anything."

He flew down the steps, leaving me alone in the guest bedroom. I heard Seneca move about downstairs, sending Alfie off. With the closing of the front door, I felt a part of me light up. The piece of my heart that belonged to brother. Illuminating, it rose to encompass my whole being. I felt transformed. A person who was never alone, yet vicariously living an oxymoron. I was alone physically, but never without those who I cared about.

"Effie? Where are you?" called out Seneca.

I had almost forgotten that he resided here, too. I closed the door to the guest bedroom, touching the knob with a feeling of finality. His voice was coming from downstairs. Traversing the steps, I remembered the old days. Before things like parental hijacking or impregnated sisters were known to me.

Seneca sat at the dining room table. The whole scene looked a bit absurd, because there were so many seats, yet Seneca sat all alone. I took the seat closest to him, taking note of his folded hands.

"You look pleased," I commented, not fully knowing what to say.

"An uncle," he stated, "I cannot believe it. I am to be an uncle. To the child of my girlfriend's brother."

"Are you angry?" I instantly felt a twinge of shock.

"No. Not angry. Just concerned," Seneca said toward the distance.

"Pray tell, what are your concerns?" I asked relieved.

"Alfie will make a fantastic father, no doubt. Venia, too, is ideal mother material. However, my concern is with their engagement," Seneca stated.

"What? You want to be the best man at the wedding?" I snorted.

"No. I have never been to a wedding. Have you?" he retorted.

I had not. No one that I knew ever took that direction of commitment.

"So what?" I asked him, "There is a first time for everything."

"Look at our family history. Our parents, all of them, where are they now? I just do not want something like that happening with us," Seneca expressed.

I considered his concerns. His fears seemed legitimate. I would be lying if the same idea had not crossed my mind at some point.

"You cannot think of it that way. Perhaps, they will not make it. Perhaps, they will. The important thing is that they are trying, and that is something that has not been done before by our parents. They are trying to protect our family, just like us. The abandonment stops here. He will not leave her. And I will not leave you."

This last sentence struck us both. I felt the reality of my words, weighing us down into the sea of steadiness. Seneca smiled at my words. His eyes lit up with something I had not seen in a while. Passion.

"I wanted to ask you earlier. You know, as a graduation present. However, all the chaos that came of your party diverted me from asking," he grinned.

"Asking me what, dear?" I smiled, thrilled at his liveliness.

"Well, as you know our siblings are engaged. I, too, feel the pull of desire. I talked it over with Alfie and he approved," he led me over to the balcony where they had had their discussion.

"Approved of what!" I grew impatient with anticipation.

Part of me knew what was coming before it happened. You always know before something life changing occurs. That human melodrama that we all experience fuels our knowledge of the unknown. The anticipation of bad or good news.

Seneca moved into the moonlight, dragging me along at a hurried pace. I felt his nervousness, so uncharacteristic of him, through his hand. When we reached a particularly vibrant moonbeam, he sank to one knee.

The moment had arrived.

"Effie Trinket, will you marry me?"