The very first time Dave would hear his mum curse, she was standing right in front of a cake.
The cake was meant for his father's sixty-fifth birthday. The cake was a beautiful one, it was even a three layered one, with the inscription Happy birthday, dad written on it in beautiful colors. And just as mum was smiling over the cake and admiring it, Stella walked in, and with her was another cake, a little bigger and beautiful.
She didn't even bother to respond to her greetings as she snapped, "and whose idea was this?"
"It's mine," Stella responded, "I just wanted to surprise dad, he deserves better."
"Better? You mean this ain't good enough, right?" Her mother said clapping her hands.
"Don't start mum, that's not what I meant." She replied.
"That's not what you mean, right? It's okay." Their mum said as she made her way to the kitchen.
Dave was there in the dining room, watching as both his mum and sis exchanged words, and their father, Fred, sat by the window in his wheel chair, just looking since he couldn't do anything ever since stroke took the best part of him. In his eyes you could see how he wished he could talk and plead for peace to reign.
"Can we at least not do this, remember it's Dad's big day today." Dave said.
Just as if Stella has been expecting her younger brother to talk, she spun around and faced him. "Can you stay out of this, Dave. Afterall, you've always been mum's favorite."
"I don't get." Dave responded, looking a little confused.
"You heard me loud and clear, you're mum's favorite, whatever you do is always right, you were never at fault, anything you do is perfect, you're always home doing this and that, and maybe that has made you the golden one, one none of us could talk to. As if I'm not doing anything too, I'm out there trying to make a living for myself and ease you off the responsibilities, and I'm still the selfish and bad one."
"Do you have anything against me before, big sis, I ......"
Their mother wouldn't allow Dave finish his words as she jumped in between them. "There's nothing like favoritism here, Stella."
"Ohhh, for real?" Stella said as her facial expression changes and her voice became a bit loud. "But every time I call, anytime I reach out, it's always about Dave, Dave did this, Dave did that, you've never for once see something that I had done."
Dave glanced at his dad and saw how he was there, looking down and helpless, he moved closer to his sis and held her hands. "Big sis, this is not the best time to...."
He was cut short again, this time by Stella. "No," she shouted bitterly. "What will you say before, it's never the time, is it? You get praised for every single thing and I get blamed for chasing life."
*"Yeah, you left," their mother said, her voice cracking. "were you here when your father fell ill? Did you ever sleep by his bed side? Did you know how we sort the hospital bills?"
"I wasn't near by, I was farway, but I called, I tried sending the little I could too, you never told me things were this bad!." Stella responded.
"Did you ask, did you?" Their mother replied
The words flew about and kept landing as if like a rock, hitting so hard. This is years of buried tension finally finding their way out.
Stella's eyes was already filled with tears. "Did you think I don't care? I had to stop reaching out since it was like I was intruding."
"You were my first child, I expected more from you, you stopped reaching out, I waited, but you never did." Their mother said in a calm tone.
"I was facing life too, it's not easy out there mum." Stella said as she burst into tears.
Then came a tap tap sound, it was from their father, he had managed to hit the wheelchair harm with his finger. Dave quickly rushed over to see what he needs.
"Dad" Dave said, waiting for him to give a sign.
Fred lips moved, he wanted to say something, but it wasn't easy, everywhere was silent, long last, the words came out like a whisper, as he tried raising his hands to point at them, "E e enough."
"Dad wants us to stop." Dave said looking sad.
Stella moved closer to her father and dropped her knees, "Dad, I'm very sorry for everything, sorry for ruining your day."
Her father looked her in the eyes, trying his best to to raise his hands and touch her, but he couldn't, but his eyes spoke louder than his voice would. It's alright dear, just please let peace reign. I love you.
Their mother just stood there, trembling, as she used both hands to cover her mouth. Stella stood up and walked up to her mum, held her hands and said, "am sorry mum, I didn't mean to stay away."
"Am sorry too dear, I didn't mean to push you away as well."
And for the first time in years, they both hugged each other. Dave watched as two wounded hearts unclench, he quickly acted as if he was adjusting the table cloth when he noticed they were smiling at each other.
A sound broke the quietness, no one knew where it came from until it came again, it was a knock on their door, guests were beginning to arrive.
Their mum rushed into the kitchen to go ahead with what she was cooking.
Dave, looked at the two cakes in the dining and signalled to her sis, "there's no need choosing, let's just share and serve both after taking pictures."
"You and your peace talk." Stella said with a smile.
"Don't you see he's already sounding like his father." Their mother said from inside the kitchen.
Later in the day, after everyone had eaten to their full, they gathered to sing and take pictures. No one mentioned which should be in front, which is prettier, bigger or which should be shared first. Dave carried one of the cakes, and Stella cut a tiny piece from it and fed it to her father. Their mum was right beside them, hands on their shoulder, and the camera man captured that very moment.
They shared the cake among the guest's and kept the remaining, while thanking and waving the guest goodbye.
When every one was finally gone, Stella went into her bag and brought out a bottle of wine, picked some glass cup on the dining room, filled it up, raised her own glass as she shouted, "to family."
Dave rushed to pick up two glasses to, he held his and placed the other on his father's hand, helping him to hold it.
And for the first time in a very long time, the laugher in that house didn't hide the hurt, pain and anger. It healed it.
All pictures were generated using AI.
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