Another One Bites The Dust

I believe I misunderstood when he told me where we were having dinner. I thought for sure he said we were going to my parents' house but it was his parents' house that he pulled up to that evening. Dinner with both our parents was bad enough but having that dinner at his parents' house, where I had no means of escaping? It was downright scary.

"It won't be that bad," Reed whispered in my ear as we were led through to the living room. I tried to give him a smile but I couldn't. "I'll be here to protect you darling, if they get out of hand."

That made me feel a lot better, I stopped him to give him a kiss on the cheek before we entered the room. "Thank you Reed, you have no idea what that means to me."

Everything seemed to be going alright, we had drinks - well they had drinks, Reed and I had soda. Then we were led into the dining room for dinner. Conversation up to this point focused mainly on the men's work and our mother's social calendar, which I pretty much left me out completely. I tried to ask questions but after a few puzzled 'you should know this' looks, I gave up.

It was around the time that the main course was served that I finally felt included in the conversation. I had excused myself right after the salad plates were cleared, Alexis was getting sleepy so I went to put her down so she could nap. "You are so lucky you aren't expected to sit through the rest of dinner snuggle bug."

I stayed with her for as long as I could without appearing rude. When I returned to the dining room, they were just starting to serve the main course. "Did she put up much of a fight?" Reed asked as I took my seat next to him. He had wanted to go with me to put her down but he was pretty much told that he didn't need to go by his father. I knew that he was upset by this but he didn't say anything.

"She was wishing me luck on the rest of dinner as she gave me that 'I'm glad it's you not me' look," I whispered.

He laughed, "She did, did she?" Slipping an arm around my shoulders he kissed my cheek, "I'm sure you'll be just fine Berrylynn."

I could feel all eyes on us but I didn't care, I reached up to caress his cheek. "Only because you are here with me," I told him.

We started to eat the main course, which was beef. And that's when things changed focus.

"It sure was a surprise to see you the other morning Amber," his mother said. "I'm so glad that you brought Alexis here to spend time with Reed this week. Just seeing her a couple hours on the weekend isn't enough."

I wanted to say it should be enough seeing that's all he's really seen her while we've been here, but I bit my tongue and smiled. "Alexis was missing Reed and since he couldn't come down, it seemed like a good idea to come here to visit."

"I'm very grateful that you did Amber," Reed slipped his hand onto my thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"What have you done since you've been here?" His mother asked, "Have you been to the house yet?"

"No mother we haven't, there really hasn't been that much time yet."

His father scoffed, "Nonsense! You just had the morning off! What did you do that was more important than showing Amber the house?"

Reed tensed a little, "We had other things that we needed to deal with father. I'll show her the house soon."

"Sooner the better Reed, you don't want Amber moving into a house that isn't set up! It's just not acceptable!" His mother shook her head, "I think it's just silly that you shell out all that extra money when you have a house that you two can live in just sitting there empty."

"Amber honey," my mother cut in as soon as Lucinda stopped talking. "I know a few really wonderful interior designers that will be more than happy to help you with the house."

"I'd recommend Nancy from Life of Design myself," Lucinda piped up. "She just did such an amazing job with the Maxwell's house last month. Their home is going to be featured in Today's Designer Homes next month!"

I stared at the both of them. When did I say we were moving here? Glancing at Reed I was surprised to see that he was actually smiling as he listened to them go on. Does he think that's what is happening here? Does he believe that we are coming back here to live?

"No Lucinda, that's not the kind of design Amber and Reed would be looking for. They'll need something that is baby friendly, for Alexis and all the other future grandchildren they'll give us."

"Oh! I just had the most wonderful idea Lenore." Lucinda leaned over the table a little. "How about Zoe from Livable Design for the baby's room? She just redid the First Steps Daycare a couple months ago and all the parents have had nothing but great things to say about the new design."

"Ladies please!" My father cut into their conversation. "I'm sure Amber would rather choose for herself who she lets decorate the house."

"Well of course she'll choose Carl!" My mother shook her head at him, she had this amused look on her face. "We are just throwing out names for her."

I looked across the table at my father, I was so happy he stopped them from going on. I wished I was close enough to him to actually thank him. He caught my look, he smiled at me and then said. "Maybe Amber has her own ideas about what she'd like to do with the house; she could do it herself." I raised my brow at this comment, did my father actually utter those words? Did he say I could do something?

"Carl!" My mother rolled her eyes, "Amber is not going to spend all that time decorating the ho-"

"You are right, I'm not." I cut in. "Since I don't live there, why would I waste my time?"

Reed's father looked up from his plate, "Of course you don't live there now Amber! You'll want to have the house ready for when you and the baby move back. There's no sense in putting it off until you have all your stuff with you, you may not even want most of it with the new design."

Laying my fork down by my plate, I looked him directly in the eyes. "Who said we were ever moving back here?" His father broke away from my stare to look at Reed and I did too. "Reed?"

He glared at his parents before he turned to me. "It's no surprise that I would like you to move back here Amber, to live with Alexis and me in the house. I've told you that before." He shrugged, "I don't see why we can't do that."

"Maybe the fact that I don't fit in here anymore Reed has something to do with it. I have a life that isn't here, Alexis has a life that isn't here."

His father grunted, "A life that my son pays for!"

"I never asked Reed to pay for a damn thing!" I snapped at his father.

"But you didn't turn it down either!" He snapped back. "Stop being a spoiled, selfish little brat; move back here and live in the house that he bought for you and the baby!"

I couldn't believe his father spoke to me like that. "Reed?" I looked to him for support.

There was a sadness in his eyes as he looked back at me. "I don't see why you don't want to be here Amber; I want you to be here."

"Reed you know why I-"

"No Amber I don't, you won't tell me what's going on. You say you love me and that you want to be with me but you are holding back from me and I don't know why." He looked away from me, looked down at his plate. "Is it Chris?"

"Chris?" For a moment I didn't know what he was talking about, I had forgotten about Chris. "No! It's not Chris, it's not anyone else. Reed, I..." I trailed off, I didn't want to have this conversation with our parents watching. "I don't think now is the time to talk about this."

Reed went to say something but my father cut him off. "Amber is right, now is not the time to talk about it. Some things are better left private." For the second time in less than an hour, my father was on my side, what the hell is going on?

"Fine," Reed snapped as he jabbed his fork at the vegetables on his plate. "We'll talk about it later."

But we didn't, at least not when we got home that night. He was still upset and locked himself in his office for the rest of the night. I went to bed and ended up sleeping alone, he never came to bed.

He was up and gone before I got up and I didn't hear from him all day. When he arrived home tonight, he barely said a word to me but he was all smiles for Alexis. Once she was in bed, he locked himself in his office again.

I woke up alone this morning...he was gone to work.

I think it's time Alexis and I went home.