EXCERPT FROM
THE UNEXPECTED
By L. Rosamond Richards
© Copyrighted Material
Dinner at the Scattler’s home was interesting, almost like a ‘guess who’s coming to dinner’ evening. There was a host of family members to meet. Lousaine’s brother, Alex, was there with his wife, Marilyn, and their two kids, Kenneth and Deborah, as was Renata, Celeste’s sister, who had flown in from Idaho with her husband, Mike.
After the introductions were made, they were ushered into the living room where they were served cocktails and hors’ d’oeuvres. Everyone seemed very comfortable, so there was no reason to believe that Annaise would not be accepted into the family.
The butler came in to announce that dinner was ready and escorted them to the formal dining room, which Celeste said, with pride in her voice, that she had designed herself.
Eric was seated at the head of the table and Celeste was at the opposite end. Annaise was seated to Eric’s left which made Barbara a little nervous. She was glad when she noticed her nameplate which placed her near Eric. The food was fabulous, and the conversation was varied. For Annaise and Barbara, there was a plethora of questions, especially from Eric Scattler, but mostly everyone wanted to know how Lousaine and Annaise had met and when the big event would be.
Eric was engaged in conversation with Annaise. Barbara, who was involved in a conversation with Alex, kept peering over to make sure that Annaise was able to handle Eric. When she thought that Eric’s questions were too probing, she diplomatically joined their conversation. She delicately changed the tone by diverting his attention and complimenting him on his home. Then she asked him about his company and its growth from a three-person office to a conglomerate. Eric was a proud man, so when people expressed interest in his company or his work, they got his undivided attention.
“That must have taken hard work and tenacity, especially after such an unfortunate beginning,” she said.
Eric’s face registered surprise. “What do you mean?”
“You know, when one of your partners died suddenly.”
“Oh, that,” Eric said, shrugging. “Things happen, but life must go on.”
Barbara pressed on. “As I recall, he was found dead in his home after three days, and his death was never solved.”
“No, it was not.”
“I remember feeling terrible, wondering how difficult it must’ve been to continue after losing a partner in that way, and how distraught his family must’ve been.”
“It was not easy for any of us, but we had to forge ahead to realize our dream. Sam would have wanted it that way,” Eric said as he twitched uncomfortably.
Lousaine, who had been talking with Renata, turned his attention to his father. “What was that about a partner dying, Dad?”
Annoyed that the conversation was focusing on something long forgotten, Eric huffed and answered, “It’s not conversation fit for the dinner table.”
Lousaine ignored Eric’s answer and restated the question. “Was that about your first partner, Sam Cummings?”
All conversation at the table stopped as everyone looked on. “Yes, it was.”
Barbara was flushed with guilt. She felt responsible for introducing the subject in the first place, but now there was nothing she could do. She shifted uncomfortably in her chair. It was an oops moment.
Sensing that his father was uncomfortable, Lousaine tried to lessen the tension by explaining that he was asked about all the partners during an interview for a local magazine.
“Really! What did the interviewer want to know?” Eric asked.
“He was doing a profile on the company and the partners. Who, what, where, when stuff,” Lousaine said as he took a sip of wine. “When I did not mention Sam Cummings, he asked me about him, but I told him that he was a partner at the inception of the company and only for a few years after that, and then he died. I also told him that I was not privy to the details of his death, so he did not pursue it. The reporter was only interested in where we were now and mentioned Sam’s name on the assumption that he was still alive but had left the company.”
“I see,” said Eric.
“I asked you about Sam because I was curious about it and wanted to clarify some information. You said you’d discuss it with me later, but you never did.”
“Some things are better left unsaid,” Eric said dismissively.
Celeste sat quietly taking it all in. Eric eyed her as if asking her to jump in and say something, anything to change the subject, but she said nothing.
Alex chimed in that he’d heard about someone dying in the company when he was much younger, but it had always remained a mystery.
Finally, Celeste asked if anyone wanted dessert and coffee. The conversation turned to other topics and laughter returned to the table. Eric was relieved.
After dessert, Lousaine got up and toasted Annaise, expressing his love to her. He thanked his parents for hosting a magnificent dinner party and his family for welcoming Annaise and Barbara into the Scattler family. They all lifted their glasses in a toast.
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