1. Obligations

Warnings: Lack of flow and terrible poses.

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Riverview, Present Day

The hour-long drive into Riverview seemed to drag on for an eternity. The space between the two women was punctuated with small talk of the upcoming semester, the drive of the new car and Nan’s slow spiral into senile dementia. The smooth crooning of Sade was swapped for static on the FM Radio as the car left the asphalt and took on the gravel road of Manor side.

Kat felt the leather stick to her bare thighs. Even with the aircon on full blast the humidity had found a way to make the drive as uncomfortable as it possibly could. She blew away a stray lock of hair, thinking of the small stuffy house - with only one aircon in the main bedroom - that awaited them at 27 Rose Road.

“Who’s going to be there?” Finally, the question she’d asked every time they visited Nan had escaped her lips.

“Just us.” Mia Covington cast her daughter a wry a smile.

Just us meant everyone. Kat sank into her seat hoping this lunch would go quickly. This wasn’t what she had in mind for the last Sunday of her vacation but she had familial obligations. 

 As the car pulled into the driveway, old Breezer came bounding down the pathway to welcome them. After a bit of petting, soothing clucks and commands to stop jumping, Kat and Mia had finally found their way into the house.

The men, as usual, were parked in front of the TV watching the game; the women were bustling in the cramped kitchen trying to help with finishing touches. 

After the hugging, kissing and all the other niceties that came with a family gathering, Kat joined her cousins in the awkward silences and stilted conversation that culminated around the dining table.

“Babes, look what I found.” Nan set an old photo album down on the table. Kat flipped through the leaves. 

There were pictures of her first birthday, trips to the beach and visits to the old beach house.

"There’s more in the attic. I want to give everyone their things before I die.”

Kat forced a reassuring smile that that wasn’t going to happen any time soon. The old lady had been going on about kicking the bucket ever since Gramps passed on six years ago.

She excused herself and headed toward the attic.

The old attic was clouded in a blanket of dust and the smell of moth balls hung thick in the air. Kat fumbled for the light switch almost tripping over the junk strewn across the floor.

“I wonder if the old bird has anything valuable in here.” Bridget kicked over a few boxes and what looked like a dead rat as she dived straight for an old chest.

“Gee Bridge, you could at least pretend to be interested in the worthless stuff.” Kat rolled her eyes and manoeuvred her way through old furniture, toys and other objects passed down through the generations, ignoring her cousin’s snide comment over an old teddy bear. 

She eventually found the album among a pile of old books that the small bookcase downstairs couldn’t house. Some were first editions of the classics: Great Expectations, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Heart of Darkness. There were also a few works from Shakespeare and some other titles she didn’t recognise. She thumbed through the pages of what looked like an old diary before tossing it aside. 

“Girls! Lunch is ready” Nan’s voice came from the bottom of the stairs. Kat gathered the pile of books and albums she wanted before making her way down to another two hours – at least - of torture. 

Leaving couldn’t have come any sooner. As everyone said their goodbyes – which was really last minute gossip – Kat packed the box of albums and books away in the boot. The food was the only saving grace of this family lunch. She was glad to be free of her Aunt Carmine’s bragging over their holiday in... Wherever it was; and Doctor Dean’s brash comments about anything and everything. 

“I’m dying for a cigarette.” Mia pulled out of the driveway, just as eager to get away from her prying family.  

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The synopsis has been published. It can be found here.

Also a big thank you to everyone who has taken an interest :) Hopefully I stick this one out to the end.