Tell Me What You're Not Telling Me

'Liv, I know this is possibly the last thing on your mind right now but my mother...'

Ordinarily, I would move from fully reading a paper to half reading it when my husband started that sentence. But when things to do with his mother got dropped into the mix, he got my undivided attention. Aunt Shelly sat perpendicular to me, siding with Judge Judy on the TV. But the full side-on look I gave David, paused both David, Aunty Shelly and Judge Judy.

He started again.

'Possibly the last thing on your mind right now but we've been invited to the Cabrielle Christmas Ball.'

'Back up, what does your mother have to do with it?'

'She got us the tickets.'

'Then no.'

Aunty Shelly looked from me to David.

'I think it would be good for us, for you.'

'Is that what your mother said, or what you devised yourself because we both know that Lucinda has never had me in her good will thoughts. That this isn't about me and more about Lucinda being represented at this Ball.'

Aunty Shelly is back to looking at David.

'How about we think about it.'

'Okay.' I said with more ice than an ice bath before sipping on my coffee and returning to my law case notes. He stood in his spot for a little before walking away.

It was me who Aunty Shell transferred her gaze to now and I could feel it. She never said a word but I sensed her face telling me everything she wasn't telling me before she resurrected the volume on her tv programme.

She'd later satisfied herself with the judge's no nonsense ruling when I felt her eyes on me again. I was smart enough to know not to look up. Except when I didn't, she didn't just turn the volume down, she switched off the TV. Caused me to look to the TV.

'Livie,' she said quietly but got my full attention. 'Keep that up, and it won’t just be the baby you lose.'

Part II of This Spin-off is on Christmas Day