Chapter 5 - The Cold Feast

The mention of Gerald shattered whatever fragile composure Patrick had left. He lunged toward Daniel, grabbing his younger brother by the lapels of his coat.

“Don’t you dare bring Dad into this!” Patrick snarled. “I took care of things! I managed the funeral! I managed Kristen’s family! You walked away to your fancy city job while I stayed behind!”

“You stayed behind to leech off her!” Daniel roared, breaking Patrick’s grip with a single, furious shove that sent Patrick stumbling back against the sideboard. Silverware rattled violently against china.

“Enough!” I cried out.

My voice cracked like a whip through the room. Both of my sons froze. Kristen took a step back, startled by the sheer force of my tone.

I walked steadily into the kitchen. Without a word, I grabbed the heavy glass lid and sealed the roasting pan. I pulled the carving knife from the wooden block and slipped it into a drawer, turning the deadbolt on the pantry. Then, one by one, I carried the serving dishes—the glazed carrots, the candied yams, the bowl of rosemary potatoes—and slid them straight into the refrigerator.

“Eleanor, what are you doing?” Kristen shouted, marching into the kitchen after me. “People haven’t even eaten yet! Dinner is supposed to be served!”

“Dinner is over,” I said calmly, shutting the refrigerator door and facing her. “If I am deemed unworthy to sit at this table, then no one eats the food I bought and prepared. The stove is off. The kitchen is closed.”

Kristen’s mother, an imperious woman named Brenda who had sat quietly judging the decor all afternoon, finally stood up from her seat.

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“Well, this is utterly barbaric,” Brenda announced, smoothing her coat. “Kristen, we are not going to sit here and be humiliated by an ungrateful in-law. Pack the children’s things. We’re leaving.”

“Nobody is leaving until Patrick sets this straight!” Kristen screeched, turning furiously toward her husband. “Patrick! Are you going to let her starve our children? Are you going to let your mother kick my family out into the cold?”