Love, Death and Broken Family Ties

Aurora POV:

When I meet him in the hall he is resplendent in a black suit, white shirt, maroon tie with a mother-of-pearl tie clasp. "Goodness," I say. "You've shined your shoes!"

"I have ," he admits. "Pathetic, isn't it?"

"You look perfect; a Nice Young Man. When in fact, I am the Punk Librarian Deluxe." I chuckled

"They will adore you, just like I adore you" He said

I could feel my cheeks turn pink.

He and I stand before the full-length mirror at the top of the stairs, admiring ourselves. I am wearing a pale green silk strapless dress which belonged to his grandmother.

He had shown me a photograph of her wearing it on New Year's Eve, 1941. She's laughing. Her lips are dark with lipstick and she's holding a cigarette.

"It looks so beautiful on you"

I had to admit I look great in the cloth, I was expecting a naf, but this was nothing short of spectacular.

"How is still good, it look nothing like a fabric dated 1941"

"It is a family heirloom and maximum care is taken. Besides, the materials used then was really good, I guess. "

I nodded in agreement .

"Father is staring at us" He said

I wanted to look down the stairs to see where he is at.

"No, he would know what I'm about to do is performative"

Before I could process what he was about to. He wrapped his hand around my waist, and held my head carefully with the other. He placed his lips on mine. It was a short wet kiss.

He wrapped his arm around and pulled me against his body, I felt my boobs pressed akwardly against his chest.

We broke up the hug as quickly as the kiss.

"I hope he bought that" he said

He allowed his hand to linger on my waist as he walked me down the stairs. We headed to the living room.

Alicia came to meet us.

"Watch out for Mama, she's messed up." She said.

Their mother was sitting on the couch looking harmless, her hair all piled up into a chignon, wearing her pearls and her peach velvet dress with the lace sleeves. She looks pleased when Gus goes over and sits down next to her, laughs when he makes some little joke for her, and I wonder for a moment if Alicia is mistaken.

But then I see how their father was watching her, I realize that she must have said something awful just before we came in.

I took a glance at their father's and saw the earlier satisfaction has dissapeared.

Sharon hovers at Mark's elbow and I abandon them all to avoid being stuck in an akward situation, crossing the room to sit by Aunt Dulcie in the window seat.

"Oh, child, how lovely—I haven't seen that dress since Elizabeth wore it to the party the Lights had at the Planetarium." She exclaimed.

It was probably the first time I will hear her make a sound tonight, I was taken by surprise.

"Thanks Ma'am" I replied.

She grinned at me and we turned our attention to the rest at a distance.

"You will be a nice addition to the family, I could feel your gentle aura the moment you walked in"

"I hope I can watch you join the family before I leave, it will be a joy to see you among us."

I didn't know what to say, I couldn't assure her I will be nor could I tell her the truth. I simply nodded my head.

Leo finally came over.

"What's wrong with your mother" I asked

He shrugs "She is pissed about sharon"

What's wrong with Sharon?" Aunt Dulcie inquired, "She seems very nice. Nicer than Mark, if you ask me."

"She's pregnant," I tell Dulcie.

"They're getting married. Mother doesn't approve of her' Leo added.

"Lucille, of all people, ought to be a little understanding of that young girl." Auntie Dulcie remarked.

Leo was about to ask Dulcie what she meant when the dinner bell rang and we rise.

I heard Leo whisper to his sister, "Is she drunk?" and she whispers back, "I think she was drinking in her room before dinner.

"I thought she was doing the cooking"

"She left the cooking to me."