Chapter 8 - Theo
1082 Words
Sitting at the table with these people makes me realize just how much I do not fit in with the people around here. The people that my parents are friends with. The people that I grew up surrounded by. Their conversations were like a game of one-upmanship. And it did nothing but irritate me. Comparing the things they had bought… their cars… their holidays… their new watches… the list went on and on. Everything about money. Image. It sickened me.
I had seen Autumn standing uncomfortably by the window in the kitchen area, deep in thought, I think how her mother had spoken to her had hurt her feelings, not surprisingly in my opinion. The way that woman spoke down to her daughter was appalling. I had contemplated going to check if she was okay. We had seemed to get along when we spoke briefly before... I even wondered if there was a little chemistry there...
But then, just as I pondered heading up to check on her, her brother-in-law joined her, and they were chatting casually among themselves. I cannot lie, I loved to people watch. Perhaps it was being a photographer, but the expressions on their faces or their reactions to things fascinated me…
And, I have to say, Autumn was a pleasure to look at. Her features were so delicate… and the way her eyes responded to things was almost mesmerizing. She was a true beauty. I could not believe just how much she had changed. How she had blossomed in the years since I had seen her. But whatever her brother-in-law had said to her had clearly made her feel uncomfortable, because her face changed.
Or perhaps it was me smiling at her that made her feel uncomfortable? Or me unable to take my eyes off her... I did not like the thought of me being the reason she was feeling that way. She had seemed quite eager to chat earlier. And, while I knew I should not be looking at her the way I was, I could not help myself. There was nobody else here to socialize with, and my eyes seemed to naturally be drawn to Autumn. She had my attention without even trying...
But, now, I was a little curious about what had made her look so uncomfortable. Her brother-in-law, Taylor, walked back to his seat, alongside his wife, with a smirk upon his face, making me all the more confident he had said something to make his sister-in-law feel uneasy. And, knowing what I did about this guy, I would not put that past him. Knowing what I did about this family, it would not surprise me. Not one of them seemed to treat Autumn well.
She had rushed her way back to the table and sat down, avoiding my gaze now, as well as everyone else’s. It definitely seemed this girl wanted to be anywhere but here.
“So, Autumn, dear, do you plan on returning back to the area?” my Mum asked, and I have to say I was shocked by her forwardness. This was not the sort of thing she needed to know, and going off the uncomfortable expression appearing on Autumn’s face, it was not a question she wanted to answer.
Annabel cleared her throat, telling me it was likely a question Autumn would not get a chance to answer either. “Autumn is awfully stubborn.” She said coldly, with a brief but icy look toward her daughter, which was easy to determine she did not approve of Autumn living away from the area. “We offered her the cottage in the grounds, but she chooses to live out in the city. The commitment she made, I suppose…”
I had no clue what those words meant, but the awkward atmosphere it brought around the table was most definitely unpleasant. There was a hint of color to Autumn’s cheeks, as she looked down at her hands, fidgeting and embarrassed by the words her mother spoke, while Elodie giggled almost mockingly from across the table. Is this how her family always treated her?
“Did you get your new car, Leo?” Finley asked suddenly, like he was trying to change the topic of conversation and in an instant the conversation was back to comparing possessions. Trying to outdo one another. Occasionally, asking for advice about the best models or sales people in the area. This sort of conversation was more than tiresome, and I did not know if I could tolerate it for the entirety of the holidays.
As I looked down the table toward Autumn, her head was down, looking towards her hand. Her eyes glazed like she was off in another world. Not that I could blame her in the slightest. Anywhere was better than here. Wonder if I could go and join her wherever she had escaped to?
“Shall we head to the drawing room?” Annabel spoke with an air of confidence as she interrupted the eternally ongoing conversation. Her tone of voice told me that her words were less of a statement and more of an order. “We will have drinks there, while we wait for the others to arrive.”
Drinks already? It was barely past ten!
Everyone began to move, and my father stood alongside me. “See, I told you it would be good to be home, son. And the girls being here too must be an added surprise for you. It will be nice for you to catch up with them, I am sure. Both of them married and settled down now. Shame you are not.”
I hesitated at his words. Did he say they were both married? I could clearly see Elodie was married. Her husband was sitting next to her, acting very over the top, and very much fitting into the family dynamic of the Andersons. But, Autumn too? There was no sign of a man by her side. And she had not mentioned a husband. Though had I given her the chance? It wasn't like it had come up...
A wave of almost disappointment fell over me, with no real reason as to why. I hid a small smile. What had I expected? Her to fall at my feet? I was certainly not the type the Anderson girls would go for. And my Dad definitely just said she was married. Though I swear she was being more than a little friendly with me…
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