Family Gathering

Jon was driving to take his kids to see their mom and his parents. His mother had invited them over for dinner tonight and said she had a big announcement to make to the whole family and wanted him to come, too. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be going.

He still hadn’t forgiven his mother for allowing Jenna to move in after Jenna had left him and divorced him. Even though he had won custody of the kids, he still felt like he had lost more in the divorce than Jenna had. Considering Jenna now slept in his childhood room, he thought he had lost his parents.

He purposely arrived right when his mother had said that dinner would be served to cut short the total time he spent in his ex-wife’s company. So, after taking off his light jacket, he headed straight to the dining room to join the rest of the family.

His mother had outdone herself on the dinner tonight. There was a stuffed goose, cranberries, green bean casserole, corncakes, salad, and his mother’s homemade dinner rolls. Everyone was digging in while his dad cut up the goose.

The conversation at the table was mostly catching up talk. Everyone wanted to know what everyone else was up to. Each had their own news to share. Jon noticed that his parents and ex-wife were awfully quiet throughout the meal.

When the meal was cleared away, his mother brought out a cherry cordial and coffee for dessert. As they ate, his mother said she had an announcement to make.

“Your father and I are getting a divorce. Jenna and I have been having an affair for the last three years, and we have decided to marry each other.”

Everyone, including Jon’s children, just sat there and stared at his mother and Jenna, who were holding hands with each other. No one moved for several minutes. Suddenly, as if on cue, someone coughed, and one by one, they all left the house without another word.

Jon and his kids were heading to the door when he heard his dad holler, “Wait up, I’m coming with you.”