LOCATION — Old Marylebone Town Hall. DATE — September 28, 2024. STARTER — [OPEN to Rutherford Family]
Yvonne's civil wedding ceremony makes for a small affair (well, as small as possible, considering her husband's clan) and an uncharacteristically intimate gathering for his own family in turn. His father's associates are nowhere to be found, no string of friends and followers trailing after his sisters, and no posse of girls to make eyes at his younger brother, either. A refreshing turn, enough that Gideon is unabashedly relieved the bride and groom have chosen to save the fanfare of a church ceremony for a different date.
It's nice to see them like this, given the Rutherford rarity that is sharing in common happiness. Even the strained politeness between certain individuals or the inevitable awkwardness of some interactions has been worth weathering for the greater good of celebrating Yvonne's special day. And he's happy for her, enough to lift his own spirits when he sees the resolute joy in her smile, or catches glimpses of the adorable bundle that is his youngest niece, finally freed from the clutches of the NICU.
It gives him time to practice the baby steps, too; to see the love that surrounds him, all those promises of eternity, without succumbing to the forlorn ache beneath his ribs.
He's done well most of the day – greeted, smiled, chuckled, congratulated – eventually though, as the distractions begin to dwindle, it creeps back up on him. The inoffensive teasing about who might be next to walk down the aisle... The empty space beside him that would've been hers, if they were still together... And that damn ache he can't shift.
He peels slowly away from the cheerful throng, hoping to go unnoticed. His absence swallowed up by another member of either family, able to swing the social mingling better than he can just now. Ten minutes, that's all he needs. Ten minutes to get air, clear his head, and beg mercy from his memories. It's been four months, let me go.
Perhaps it was an ambush. Even if wasn't, it would likely be perceived as such.
A better man would've been able to approach his son any time, any place. Well, a better man likely wouldn't have had to put any thought into it at all, he supposed... But Andrew wasn't deluded enough to believe resentment from his children was unwarranted, and he wouldn't deny he was ignorant to how much it might've deepened in his extended absences. Especially with Gideon. It was hard to gauge reality when the few times they spent real time together were the kind of family gatherings where everyone put on their well-worn façades, years in the making.
Just like this one. And there the older man stood, very much a coward.
"I can't say this is what I expected from her, but I also can't say I'm disappointed. It is a refreshing change for a family affair not to become a media spectacle." Not the best ice breaker, but he'd followed him outside without much thought or motive beyond speaking with his boy. "It's good to see you, Son. You're here alone?"
