Gifts

Chapter 29 – Something in the Air–1

Tristin turns her eyes to me as soon as I am seated, the baby in her lap looking up at me curiously. “Hello, Fay,” she says, her face cold. But hey, at least she’s talking to me.

“Hi,” I say, giving her as bright a smile as I can manage. Romulus peaks around her to give me a happy wave, which I

return.

My father, on Romulus‘ other side, turns to me as well. “We wanted to apologize, Fay, as a family. For the events at our house yesterday.”

“Oh, please,” I say, waving a hand to dismiss it. “Don’t worry about it. I understand that it’s…awkward. That I’m sort of a new addition, and that I screwed up some of your plans. I’m…sorry about that, by the way.” I look into Tristin’s face as I say it.

“Not a new addition, Fay,” my father says, looking at me steadily. “A love one returned to us after a long parting.”

“Yes,” Tristin says, her voice low and rehearsed. “You are a member of this family.” Her eyes flick to Kent and Daniel then, and I wonder why.

The rest of the dinner proceeds a little blandly. The food is good, the chitchat a little dull. I get a lot of family history, then, with Alden showing me pictures of my grandparents and telling me about their journey to America from Italy.

I look at the old photos curiously tria

quickly at Kent and Daniel – with their dark skin, thick black hair, and roman noses, they look Italian.

“Thank you so much for showing me these,” I say to Alden,

handing the pictures back to him. “I’m learning so much about myself these days.”

much more to learn,” he says, giving me a warm smile, which I return.

out and begins playing the oldies that this crowd apparently favors – lots of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. It’s not a bad time,

least, not a good one. He’s very stern, always glancing around the room, looking over everyone who comes to say hello. I purse my

him and turns his

and shimmy my shoulders, encouraging him, without words, to try to loosen up and have

I think, getting up to get another drink, Kent stands to go with me, but I put out a hand

“I’m just going to the bar for a glass

away. “I’ll be back in a moment.”

settles back in his chair. “I’ll be right here,” he says. I nod and briskly

set of people are standing by the bar chatting. They raise their glasses to

to the family, cousin,” a tall guy with closely–cut black hair and broad shoulders says

hands me a glass of wine. “Um, are we really

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Gifts

29 – Something in

he says, indicating the slightly smaller version of himself next

raising my brows. “Wow, it’s really nice

but I can tell she’s had a couple of drinks.

from my glass. “Um, my

to that sort of thing. So to find out

says. “It must be a lot, to go from nothing into a big

remember you, though!” Amy says with a big smile. “Because you were our little redheaded Baby Fay

the way she says that. Baby Fay – only one other person calls me that –

nudging her with his

her mouth. She rushes to continue, then, trying to move the conversation on. “Yeah, anyway, I remember you when you were

I say, putting out a hand

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