An Odd Man Out (part five)

The Resident

Chapter Four

An Odd Man Out

[rerunning the last several entries to help readers catch up, because I haven’t added to this story for months]

Stacy from the phone shadowed Aura, Director of Guest Services, who wanted them to see what the seating was. Under the light of French doors (the escape end; John always thought of public spaces that way), were brass-legged divans in brown-black leatherette, and four cube tables, white. He took a seat, invited, and looked across. The dining room advanced under columns to a pair of half-walls, a corridor, a sign: STAIRS.

“Each banquette is considered for two people, but you’re basically reserving the meal. If you don’t mind these… And so it costs less. We have tables held for members’ first refusal. One might come open, but if you’re really planning a wedding…”

“We’ll bring in the green sofas and move these modern blights out.”

Aura turned, surprised, not happy, but deciding to have it be a good thing. “For Christmas, Dad. These sweet people are John Rancilton and Claudine, his fiancée. His mother, Gina. And this is Teconieshe, my father.”

“That sounds foreign.”

“It will become familiar,” the old man said.

“Tee-kahn. Ee-Shee?”

“Teconieshe. One name.”

John’s mother, too, took a making-the-best-of-it pause. “Claudie! You’re part of a trend. But then you’ll take John’s name and be normal. Or usual. I ought to say usual.”

Claudie had twined her arm through John’s, pressing elbows, and through her elbow he felt a tremor.

“Well, the green sofas,” Aura said. “We’ll want white somewhere, some lace or net curtains for those doors. Stacy, we’ll change the colors of the lights for the junipers and have them be red and white.”

“All white?”

“No, I’m not feeling it. Red and white, and then red accents, throw pillows for the sofas. Velvet or damask. We’ll do a nook here, a tabletop tree. Claudine… You look pale. Do you have thoughts on music?”

“Billy Joel,” Claudie said.

“Dad, let’s have cake and coffee.”

“Glad to.” Teconieshe tapped Claudie on the shoulder, passing.

Aura sat her down, bent to ask her something. John edged to the background, loyal to his mother.

Gina was annoyed. “So, everything here.”

“Well, you said supper at home, after the actual…um, thing. But you won’t have to cook.”

“You won’t have guests. You’ll be in front of a whole crowd, people we don’t know, doing the Christmas buffet, and… And I’ll be standing there, I guess. With your father. Watching you and Claudie, and whoever officiates.”

“I will officiate.” Teconieshe laid a tray. “Chocolate-carrot. Banana walnut. I have a legal license, and a minister’s license. Good for a few jobs around here.”

A kitchen staffer poured the coffee.

41

Tithonians

An Odd Man Out (part one)

(2022, Stephanie Foster)