Posted June 16, 2021, 11:47 a.m. by James Sinclair
Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Officer’s Mess Kitchen- Food for a Crowd
Posted by James Sinclair in Officer’s Mess Kitchen- Food for a Crowd
Posted by Lieutenant Faye Calloway (Mission Specialist) in Officer’s Mess Kitchen- Food for a Crowd
Posted by… suppressed (2) by the Post Ghost! 👻(snip)
Shara and Faye exchanged a glance and it was Faye who actually answered. “Just nee to fill and roll. Will take us five minutes and I don’t want to do it too early lest we make the flatbread soggy. But… you were joking, right? I mean this is one of those moments where I can’t read someone and it’s you so I don’t feel as weird asking.”
~The Calloway Women
Daggum looked at her and shook his head. “You never need to feel weird asking me anything. And no, I’m not joking. He’s your uncle.” He looked at Shara. “And your brother. Everyone at this table knows how easy it is for family to simply be gone. And we all know the hole it leaves. So… he’s going to be invited. And if he doesn’t come, so be it. That’s on him, not us. And if he does… then you know he isn’t as far gone as the three of you might have thought.” and he took a drink. There was a finality in his tone that said he would not be dissuaded, and he looked at the two women, prepared for the pushback he expected.
Daggum
Faye nodded slowly. “Well, I don’t have a problem inviting him. I don’t know the man, but now I’m very curious. But I won’t if it would be too difficult for you,” she said to her mom. That was an easy choice. Her mom came way before some uncle who had never bothered to even contact her after sponsoring her.
Shara was quiet for a moment, twirling her fork deftly between her fingers as took in Faye and then Daggum. “Look, it’s your wedding. If you want to invite Gavin, I’m not going to say a peep about it. He and I have… a lot unsaid but I will not let it touch what can be an extraordinarily happy day. I didn’t have family at mine and I desperately wished things had been different so I could have. Do what you need to, what feels right. But I just have one thing I need to ask of you.”
“What is it?” Faye knew better than to say ‘anything’- that was just asking for trouble.
“Don’t invite your grandfather. If you want a relationship with him, that’s your own business, but he was an emotionally and sometimes physically abusive drunk and I can’t be in the same room as him. I choose not to be. Please don’t ask it of me,” Shara said quietly, the strain in her own voice making her cringe. Even after all this time he still provoked anxiety and a need to find the nearest exit.
Faye reached across the table. “Hey, it never even occurred to me, okay?” She looked to Daggum to gauge that particular decision.
~The Calloway Women
“Grandfather still around too? Holy crap.” and he shook his head. “But if he was like that, then no… of course not. It’s not fitting to to beat the crap out of the elderly at a wedding.” and he winked at Shara.
Daggum
Shara smiled at Daggum. “Both Edward and I didn’t exactly have great parents. Well, my mom was great, but she died when I was fourteen and my father’s behaviour got worse after that. I have no idea what either him or my brother are like now. Maybe things have changed, maybe they haven’t, but when I left home I knew I needed to be anywhere but there. And then I met Edward and he was all the family I needed. And when we decided to move to Tracken we knew that we wanted something better for any children we had. We tried to give Faye a life where anything was possible and you were only limited by your imagination.” She tossed a grin at her daughter.
Faye smiled. “You did. I loved our life. Well, at least before things went to hell, but even after the DMZ became a thing, you and Dad and the other colonists were my family later one, even up until more recently, if someone was to ask if I had family, I’d say no. Because you and I hadn’t happened yet and the other family I do have alive weren’t people I thought worth knowing,” she said with a shrug.
Shara leaned towards Daggum. “I’m not going to pry where I’m not wanted but although you have a pretty good inkling at this point, you should know that Faye comes a long line of exceptionally unusual women. It’s quite possibly genetic,” she said with a wink. Faye just snorted.
~The Calloway Women
Daggum chuckled. “Gee… ya think?” he said sarcastically. “Trust me… I figured as much. But I think some family tree exploration may be in order. See what I’m really getting myself into.” and he grinned.
Daggum
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