The story continues...
The first photograph Abby picked up was of Bethany and Ed in caps and gowns; judging from how young the two of them looked, it must have been their high school graduation. Another one showed the twins with a bald man who had a huge smile of joy. Bethany leaned over to see which photograph Abby was examining and said, “That’s our father.”
Bethany paused then continued, “Edmund is so much like our father. Private, but gentle and thoughtful,”
“Your father…passed away?” Abby guessed.
“Yes. Cancer. About 12 years ago,”
“I’m sorry,”
“Me too. Hopefully he’ll be watching over me on Saturday from Heaven,”
“I’m sure he will,” Abby said as the butler returned with her breakfast. She immediately tasted the eggs.
Ed came bounding around the corner. Abby looked up at him while biting into a biscuit. Ed looked relieved and slowed his pace. He pulled out the chair next to Abby and watched her silently for a few moments while she ate.
“Good morning,” Abby said, “Sorry to be such a bother last night.”
Ed leaned over and whispered in Abby’s ear, “You had me really scared.”
“I’m fine now,” Abby said, feeling Ed’s breath on her face.
“I’m glad,” he whispered after planting a small kiss on her cheek. He leaned back in his chair and saw the pictures beside Abby’s plate.
“Geez Bethie, you showed her what a dork I was in high school?” Ed asked.
“Ah come on, Edmund. You’re supposed to have childhood pictures at a rehearsal dinner,”
“Ugh,” he replied.
Ed ordered eggs, sausage, and toast. He chuckled briefly seeing how fast Abby had cleared her plate.
“Don’t worry. I won’t allow them include any pictures of us together in the bath as babies,”
Abby let out a little giggle before Ed could respond to Bethany. Ed thought it was cute. He hoped he would survive the upcoming festivities.
Tux fitting today, Edmund,” Bethany announced, succeeding in changing the topic like a professional.
“Okay,” he said.
“You should come, too, Abby. You can shop around if you like,” Bethany said.
“Sure,” Abby replied.
Ed began to eat his breakfast but suddenly he dropped his fork which clattered on the china and Abby jumped. Ed’s mother entered the dining room, a petite woman with blond perfectly styled hair wearing a bright pink suit which accented her frame. Her real gold jewelry and earrings sparkled in the morning light; she had definitely had a face lift thought Abby. Ed’s mother put both hands on her hips; what seemed a very offensive stance to Abby.
“Mother,” Ed said his voice tense. He stood up but didn’t move towards her.
“Edmund Rufus Spenser, the underachiever has come home at last,” she announced in a shrill voice and a hint of a southern accent. All in all, she made Abby want to hide under the table. She could only imagine what Ed was feeling.
“Momma,” Bethany called, standing up.
“Hush, child,” she scolded Bethany and turned her attention back to Ed. “Just look at you. You still have that awful hairdo.”
“Yes, Mother. I like it,” Ed said, running his fingers through his hair which was spiked up on top not yet dry from his shower that morning.
“Obviously,” she snapped. “So are you still wasting your law degree?” she asked him but didn’t give Ed a chance to answer. I could see Ed’s fists clench and the muscles in his arms tighten. Ed did not say a thing.
“Momma, this is Abby. Edmund’s girlfriend from Colorado,” Bethany added.
Abby rose from her chair and extended her hand to Ed’s mother but she did not take it.
“This is who you bring home?” she asked sharply.
Abby let out a tiny gasp of shock and sat back down.
“Just you wait Edmund. William will talk sense into you about your pathetic life,” she announced and spun on her very expensive heels and left the room.
Abby asked herself how any mother could be so awful. Ed lowered his tall frame back into the chair. The look on his face was a shocked as Abby felt. He sat tense and straight backed, staring at the painting of two horses across the room. Abby watched him clench his jaw and she kept waiting for Ed to say something. Finally, she reached for his hand under the white lace tablecloth. She gently stroked the back of his clenched fist until Ed eventually relaxed his fist. Abby interlaced her fingers with his and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. Ed let out a small sigh, but still didn’t say anything. Ed looked so miserable; Abby wanted to say something to him but didn’t know what to say. When she stopped looking at Ed and glanced over to Bethany, Bethany had a look of shock on her face as well.
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