The dining hall went as silent as a graveyard and cold air seeped between the Lawson's family as a ghost had visited them.
The news caught everyone by surprise. It was utterly unexpected. Nobody could remark, everyone just stared at each other, waiting for the first to comment on the news Calhoun gave to them.
Lily and her husband exchanged looks, deep down they dreaded this day. They had been punishing for any of their sons to get married since Calhoun seemed to hate the mere mention of the word. That would have been their only grace in the eyes of their grandparents but those two boys were stupid. They were too slow and completely irresponsible. Now, Calhoun had gone and made the major move before them.
Thomas, his youngest uncle, and his wife were indifferent. They didn't care what Calhoun said or did. They had practically had enough of the boy's pride and ego.
Aunt Bianca on the other hand was elated. Her only fear was that Calhoun could be playing a horrible game on them and she didn't think her heart could take that. She wanted Calhoun married and she waited for the day he would willingly announce it as a child waiting for Christmas.
An awkward silence filled the entire place and a thick tension hovered above them as the grandparents kept exchanging looks and Calhoun himself could not get over the large grin on his face. This was exactly what he anticipated. He wanted to shock them with the news and the result was more than he had hoped for.
Just when he thought he had seen enough types of shocked faces, a burst of loud dramatic laughter sliced through the hall, and everyone turned their attention to the source of the noise. It was none other than Elsie, Calhoun's favorite aunt and the Drama queen herself.
"Calhoun, are you been serious about this?" She managed to mutter in between her laugh.
Grandmother was the first to react to Elsie's sudden laughter. "Elsie control yourself, this is a serious matter," she said.
But grandmother's words were like tickles to Elsie, she fell off her chair with laughter as tears dripped from her eyes. "Oh my God, I am so sorry but- but Calhoun, you are a clown!" She said as she tried to control herself.
Lily quickly recovered from her shock seeing how everyone still gawked at Calhoun even after Elsie's display. Her sons could still beat him, the boy was obviously joking.
"Grandmother, you can't possibly believe he wants to get married, right?" Lily asked shaking her head in disbelief. "As long as I can remember, Calhoun has been told on several occasions to find a partner but he always rebelled. You don't possibly think he is telling the truth now, do you?" Lily was desperate for Grandmother to listen to her and not Calhoun. One of her sons had to get married before he did, she couldn't sit still and watch Calhoun take even that from her family.
"So, why should we take him seriously now Grandmother?" Lily said raising her voice.
"Benson!" Grandmother snapped.
"Yes, mother," Benson responded already foreseeing what she wanted to say with the frown on her face.
"I have told you on different occasions to control the mouth of this wife of yours!" She growled.
"Of course, mother," Benson retorted, glaring at his wife.
Grandmother didn't mean to be extremely strict on Lily like this. She was just so shocked by the news she had always wanted to hear for so many years. She feared the boy might be joking and that alone made her cranky.
As Grandmother shunned their parents the fire of hatred burned stronger in Matt and Noah's hearts. Why must she always support Calhoun every time he came up with something and they never got such treatment from their grandparents? Why was Calhoun always treated specially?
The raging anger in Matt couldn't stop rising but there was nothing he could do as he would only put himself and his parents in bad records.
"For the first time, I actually side with Lily. Mother take a chill pill," Elsie said, as she adjusted back in her seat. "Calhoun come on, cut the joke and pass the wine."
Calhoun passed her the wine bottle, but his grin didnt leave his face. He kept waiting for everyone's reaction. He looked at little Rosa and she was beaming with joy. She was silent but she awaited the final moment. Calhoun could almost imagine the flowers she was already mixing in her head for the decoration.
Reading the situation at the table, grandfather knew Calhoun would not talk until he had heard everyone and some people just wouldn't talk, no matter how long they waited. To hasten things up, grandfather decided to step in before everything got out of hand. He had his plans for the boy, but since he mentioned it, the best he could hope for was that Calhoun was serious and meant every word he said.
"Calhoun my boy, we are glad to hear this news but hope it's not one of those pranks of yours?" Grandfather asked him.
"Grandfather I have grown way beyond pranks, I am serious about this. I do want to get married," Calhoun replied without hesitation.
Lily let out a gasp as she felt her plans would be ruined if this was allowed to happen. Everyone turned to stare at her, except Elsie who was observing Calhoun. Benson pinched Lilly from under the table and she composed herself, wiping away her shocked face.
Grandfather sighed and returned his attention back to Calhoun. "If you are certain, then I believe this is the best news!" He beamed.
Grandmother, Bianca, and little Rosa almost shrieked in excitement. This was definitely the best news for them, but they had to remain calm until Calhoun said his next words âone could never be too sure with him.
"Grandfather, you can't possibly take him seriously," Noah snapped as he became uneasy with the way their grandparents handled the news without rebelling.