Chain of Vengeance: Chapter Seven - Part Eight

Ruben broke off to the right as they entered the dining room, pointing to an empty chair. Jack shuffled in the doorway until Molly came up behind him and he had to sidestep to let her through. She looked simply pretty in her summer dress, showing off her athletic form, her tanned skin. His eyes flicked down to the backs of her brown legs but he made himself draw back.

“This is probably too much trouble,” he began. “I shouldn’t impose like this on short notice.”

Ruben stopped in a second doorway concealed in a narrow arch in the cream plastered wall and clicked his fingers. “Not a problem cousin. It’s an honour for us to finally meet the great Jack Catholic.”

There was a shadow of malice in his face and voice; like out in the hall when he had only smiled with his mouth. He disappeared from view before Jack could really get a bead on it and when Molly crossed his field of vision it went out of his mind. She smiled at him but he could see how uncomfortable she was. The discomfort didn’t sit well with what little he knew of her and it didn’t mesh with what he picked up of her physical demeanour. She didn’t possess the aura of a person out of sorts with her environment and those sharing it. She looked as though at any other time she would have been as calm as anything.

“Have a seat if you like,” she said, taking one herself. Sitting was only a simple gesture, but for some reason it seemed suddenly difficult.

Ruben returned, grinning and took the seat opposite Jack. “All sorted,” he said. “There’s enough to make up an extra plate and Sharleen is going to sort it out. She’ll bring it in with the others in a minute.” He glanced at Molly. “I told you it wouldn’t be a problem.”

“I guess.” She nodded noncommittally.

Ruben rocked back in his seat and pointed his mouth at the ceiling. “Mother!” There was movement above: footsteps, and a woman’s voice muffled through the thick floor and walls. This house wasn’t as luxurious as his uncle’s was but was still on a level above anything Jack had been used to in his old life. The room felt narrow but it wasn’t. The walls reached high and the lemony lighting drew the eye up to the apex of it. The door the three of them had emerged from was quite small but there was a huge pair of double doors at the end of the table to Jack’s left. Footsteps approached on the other side and one of the knobs turned.

The door only opened a crack; the lithe figure that appeared looked like a little girl because of her contrast to the giant doors. She was slender and wan with very straight, very long blond hair. She left the door ajar and came through, dressed in a multi-layered gossamer outfit, wearing an expression of perhaps jaded cynicism. She was a lot older than Molly and Ruben, despite the initial girlish impression. She had to be their mother.

“We have a guest,” said Ruben, in a loud voice. The sound of it startled her and she showed a glimmer of fright when she looked up, first at him, then across at Jack. She stared, blankly, for several moments, then in a domino topple, half a dozen different emotions strobed across her eyes and face.

Jack had never seen her before but she knew who he was instantly. That was immediately clear.

“It’s Jack Catholic,” said Ruben. “Why don’t you say hello?”

Like Molly, she was immediately uncomfortable. “Hello. I wasn’t aware you were coming.”

“This is your Aunt Jennifer, Jack,” said Ruben.

He half rose, extending his hand. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

Jennifer hesitated then took it. “I’m sorry if I appear surprised. I’ve heard of you but didn’t expect that we’d meet.”

They all took their seats as the maid entered with a tray of soup bowls. She was round and black with apple-shiny cheeks and shoulders. Unlike the others, she didn’t know who he was but there was a slight furtiveness to her eyes as she tried to place his face and work him out. No one spoke while she was in the room. Jack wondered if coming was a mistake but told himself it was the honourable process. He was an outsider, coming in from another country to steal the money they felt should be theirs. He didn’t feel right not meeting them properly; trying to be friendly.

The maid left. Jennifer and Molly started on their soup. Jack fingered his spoon, looking into the pale yellow liquid.

“We’re trying to enjoy Sharleen as much as we can at the moment,” said Ruben, leaning back in his chair, one arm slung over the back rest. “She won’t be with us much longer.”

 Jack had a bad feeling where this was going.

“Ruben, please,” said Jennifer. She looked Jack in the eye and tried her best to smile. “Jack doesn’t want to hear about that.”

Ruben reached for his spoon, muttering under his breath. “I’m sure he doesn’t.”

“Ruben!”

Nobody spoke. The atmosphere was frosty and thick. Jack hadn’t touched his soup yet. He reached for the brown paper package he’d brought with him.

“Er, I brought along a present. Just to say hi. It’s…” He opened the wrapping and passed it across the table to Jennifer. “It’s just a box of chocolates; nothing fancy.”

“Thank you. That’s very kind.”

“Yes, very kind,” said Ruben, “though I expected something more in line with a diamond tiara. Or perhaps some of that fantastic memorabilia you were selling off today that belonged to our dad.”

“Ruben, stop!” Molly got to her feet.

He grinned and took a mouthful of soup. “My apologies. I wouldn’t want to be rude to our guest now would I?”

Jack pushed his bowl forward and stood. Jennifer looked afraid of what he might say. Ruben took another sip.

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience Jennifer,” said Jack, “but I think I ought to go.”

“All right.”

Neither Molly nor Ruben said anything more. Jack paused, waiting, but the moment lengthened, becoming awkward again. He stepped round his chair and walked to the door he came through. Behind him came the scratch of a chair on the hard wooden floor.

Somebody was coming after him.