THE DINNER

                                        

                                              

"Richard, my dear!" A woman who appeared to be in her late sixties rushed towards them, her voice brimming with excitement as they entered the house, arms linked.
"Oh, Mum!" Richard beamed, his mother enveloping him in a joyful embrace. He gently disengaged his arm from Arianna, who offered a warm, affectionate smile to the mother and son.
"You haven't been visiting, and you barely call! Why are you neglecting your mother like this?" Avelina playfully chided, her hand caressing his cheek as she stepped back.
Richard chuckled. "I'm a busy man, Mum, but I'm sorry."
Avelina smiled, kissing both his cheeks. "Good evening, Mother," Arianna greeted, her smile radiant.
"Oh, my bad. I was to bring my wife, and here she is," Richard said, Arianna's smile never faltering.
Avelina turned slowly to Arianna, her expression blank. "Oh, did I? I can't recall," she muttered, just loud enough for them to hear. She pressed her lips together, while Richard coughed softly.
"Welcome, Arianna," Avelina said with a forced smile before turning back to her son. "Let's head to the dining room. Jessie and her husband will be waiting." She turned and walked ahead, the click of her heels echoing on the polished floor.
"Let's go, love," Richard said sweetly to Arianna, who nodded. Taking her hand in his, he led her towards the dining area.
"Your mum... she still doesn't like me, does she?" Arianna voiced the unsettling thought that had been nagging at her since their arrival.
Richard sighed. "Arianna, no, why would you say that?" he asked softly.
"She practically ignored me back there," Arianna replied, a hint of frustration and disappointment in her voice.
Richard swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. He'd noticed his mother's cool reception, but what could he say? Avelina was his mother, and Arianna his wife; he couldn't risk creating more friction between them. Silence, he hoped, would be the least damaging approach.
"Honey, no, don't get the wrong idea," he said, silently praying she would let it go. But with an intelligent, high-IQ lawyer as his wife, such issues rarely faded easily.
"Richard, it's okay to admit it. It's obvious your mum has never truly liked me," Arianna stated, and Richard's heart sank. "I know, but it feels worse now, almost as if her dislike has intensified since I haven't given her... a grandchild yet," Arianna added, emphasizing the last part, a note of unconcealed sadness in her voice.
"Arianna, we're the ones who haven't been ready for a child. This isn't your fault," Richard said, stopping at the corner leading to the dining room.
Arianna sighed. "Yes, I know, but it was my decision initially. I brought it up."
"Arianna, I respect you, and I love you, okay? You wanted to build your career first, and I understood that perfectly. It was our agreement," he pointed out, gently cupping her cheeks. She never ceased to be amazed by Richard's considerate and selfless nature. He was so mature, and that was just one of the many reasons she loved him. Who would have thought she could build such a successful law career within three to four years? And when she credited him with a significant impact on her success, she wasn't exaggerating. His support had been unwavering.
"But why am I not pregnant yet?" she murmured, and Richard's brow furrowed in confusion. What was she talking about?
"Arianna..." he began.
"Yes, love, I'm ready. I want to make you happy too. I want to do this for us," she said emotionally, her eyes filled with a longing that bordered on frustration.
A wave of realization washed over Richard. His wife had been eager to conceive, and he had been oblivious, mistaking her increased affection for something less significant. So, she wanted a child? She was ready?