2011-12-23
4711
As she steeled herself against one of her mother's pointed barbs, she realized how protected she felt now that she had Arthur by her side, both a foil and shield against the woman's demanding presence. Arthur's easy smile seemed to put people at ease and his presence at her family's Christmas Eve dinner made it the first since she could remember that she was able to smile blankly back in response to one insult or another, laid upon her brazenly across the table, without taking the bait and becoming emotional.
In fact, she felt relaxed. Halfway through her second glass of wine, her right hand twirled her glass on the table in between sips. Her plate lay untouched, cranberry sauce slowly seeping into the neighboring mashed potatoes and stuffing, next to sliced breast meat, glistening eerily in the flickering candlelight.
tinteardrop at 2:07 p.m.