Uninvited

The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a golden hue over the living room as we put the final touches on Cally’s birthday decorations. The house was filled with the scent of fresh flowers, and the soft hum of our favorite playlist played in the background. Gray and I had gone all out to make sure everything was perfect for this special day.

In the kitchen, I could hear Keith and Jane chatting as they worked together to prepare a feast worthy of celebration. Keith’s laugh echoed through the house, bringing a smile to my face as I arranged the last of the balloons.

“You really outdid yourself with these decorations,” Gray remarked, wrapping his arms around me from behind. His voice was warm, his breath tickling my ear. “I think Mom’s going to love it.”

I leaned into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. “I hope so. She deserves a day like this. I’m just glad we could all be here together.”

He nodded, resting his chin on my shoulder. “It’s nice, isn’t it? A day where we can just enjoy being together, no worries, no stress.”

We stood there for a moment, soaking in the peace that had settled over the house. It was a rare thing, these moments of calm, and I wanted to savor it for as long as it lasted.

The doorbell rang, breaking the quiet. Gray reluctantly let go of me to answer it. “That must be Dan and Jane,” he said, heading toward the front door.

I followed him, wiping my hands on my apron as we greeted Dan and Jane with warm hugs. They were holding a large cake box between them, the sweet scent of vanilla and chocolate wafting up as they stepped inside.

“We got the cake!” Dan announced, grinning as he handed it to me. “Hope you saved some room on the table.”

I laughed, taking the box and peeking inside at the beautiful cake covered in intricate floral designs. “It’s perfect! Thank you both so much.”

Sofia smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s nothing, really. We’re just happy to be here to celebrate with Cally.”

The house gradually filled with the sounds of laughter and conversation as everyone settled in. Jane and Keith brought out the dishes they had been working on, and the table was soon overflowing with grilled meats, fresh salads, and steaming bowls of pasta. The aroma was mouthwatering, and I could see the anticipation in everyone’s eyes as they gathered around.

Cally arrived a little while later, looking radiant in a soft pastel dress that complemented her warm smile. Her eyes lit up as she took in the decorations and the table filled with food. “Oh, this is wonderful!” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. “You all did so much. I’m so grateful.”

Gray watched the interaction with a soft smile, his eyes filled with affection. “Happy birthday, Mom,” he said, kissing her cheek. “We wanted to make sure today was special for you.”

Cally’s eyes shimmered with emotion as she looked at her son. “It already is, just having all of you here with me. That’s all I could ever want.”

We spent the afternoon together like a family, sharing stories and laughter over the meal. Gray was unusually animated, telling jokes and teasing his siblings. His laughter was bright and contagious—a side of him I didn’t often see, and it warmed my heart to witness him so at ease.

After lunch, we moved to the living room, where Gray and Dan set up a makeshift karaoke station. The atmosphere was light and joyful, with everyone taking turns singing. Even Cally surprised us all with her lovely rendition of an old classic. Keith, ever the performer, stole the show with her enthusiastic performance, making everyone laugh until they had tears in their eyes.

It felt like the perfect day, filled with love, warmth, and the comfort of family. Gray had his arm around me as we all gathered on the couch, content and relaxed. I leaned my head on his shoulder, feeling utterly at peace.

Then, the doorbell rang again.

Gray stiffened beside me, his arm tightening around my shoulder. His relaxed demeanor from earlier vanished in an instant, replaced by a tense, almost jittery energy. I glanced up at him, concerned by the sudden change in his mood.

“I’ll get it,” he muttered, rising from the couch a little too quickly.

As he walked to the door, I noticed him fidgeting with the hem of his shirt, a habit he had only when he was particularly anxious. The playful, carefree Gray from just moments ago seemed to have disappeared, replaced by someone on edge, as if expecting bad news.

The door creaked open, and I heard a low, unfamiliar voice that sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn’t make out the words, but the tone was enough to tell me that whoever it was, they weren’t here to join the celebration.

Gray stepped aside, allowing the visitor to enter. A man walked in, tall and broad-shouldered, with a sharp, angular face that bore a striking resemblance to Gray’s. His hair was graying at the temples, and his eyes, cold and calculating, swept across the room before settling on Cally.

“Rencen,” Cally whispered, her voice laced with a mix of surprise and unease. The warmth that had filled the room moments ago seemed to evaporate, replaced by a tension so thick it was almost palpable.

“Hello, Cally,” the man said, his voice smooth and detached. He turned to Gray, who was now standing rigid beside him. “And Gray. It’s been a while.”

Gray’s face was a mask of forced neutrality, but I could see the way his hands trembled slightly as he clenched them at his sides. “Uncle Rencen,” he replied, his voice tight. “What brings you here?”

Rencen’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Family, of course. I couldn’t miss Cally’s birthday.”

His words were polite, but there was something unsettling about the way he said them, a coldness that made my stomach twist. I reached for Gray’s hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze, but he didn’t respond. His eyes were locked on his uncle, his body still tense.

Cally stood from her seat, her expression carefully controlled. “Rencen, this is unexpected,” she said, her voice steady, though I could sense the underlying tension.

“Is it?” Rencen’s gaze flicked to her, his smile widening. “I thought it would be a pleasant surprise. After all, family should be together on special occasions, don’t you think?”

The room was deathly silent. The easy, joyful atmosphere from before was long gone, replaced by a heavy sense of unease that seemed to weigh down on everyone. Even Keith and Jane, who had been chatting animatedly just moments ago, were quiet, their eyes darting between Gray and his uncle with concern.

Gray finally seemed to find his voice. “This isn’t the time for surprises, Uncle. We were in the middle of something.”

Rencen raised an eyebrow, his smile fading slightly. “I see. Well, I didn’t mean to intrude. I simply wanted to wish Cally a happy birthday.”

His tone was light, but there was something off about it, something that set my nerves on edge. I could feel Gray’s unease growing beside me, and it made me want to pull him out of the room, away from whatever confrontation seemed to be brewing.

But Cally, ever gracious, stepped forward, her hand extended. “Thank you, Rencen. It’s kind of you to come by.”

Rencen took her hand, his grip firm but brief. “Of course,” he replied, his voice smooth. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

There was a beat of silence, and then Rencen turned to Gray, his eyes narrowing slightly. “We should catch up soon, Gray. It’s been too long.”

Rencen’s sharp eyes scanned the room, noting each person present. When his gaze finally settled on me, a flicker of curiosity crossed his face. He tilted his head slightly, as if assessing me, before his eyes narrowed, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips.

“And who might this be?” Rencen asked, his voice carrying a smooth, almost casual tone, though there was an edge to it that made my skin prickle. His gaze remained fixed on me, studying my every detail with unsettling intensity.

Gray shifted slightly, positioning himself protectively beside me. “This is Elina,” he said, his voice steady, though there was a tightness to it that hadn’t been there before. “My wife.”

For a split second, Rencen’s composed expression faltered. His eyebrows shot up, and his smile faded into something more unreadable. “Your wife?” he echoed, his tone laced with surprise. “Well, I wasn’t expecting that.”

The air in the room grew even thicker with tension. I could feel the weight of Rencen’s gaze, now sharper and more calculating, as he processed this new information. Gray’s hand, which had been resting at his side, clenched into a fist, his knuckles white.

“Yes, my wife,” Gray repeated, his voice firmer this time, as if daring Rencen to challenge him.

Rencen’s eyes flicked between the two of us, lingering on the way Gray had positioned himself, as if to shield me from whatever his uncle might say or do next. “I see,” Rencen finally said, his voice smooth but lacking its previous warmth.

“Well, congratulations, Gray. You’ve certainly made an interesting choice.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with implications that I couldn’t quite grasp. Gray didn’t respond, his silence speaking volumes.

Rencen’s gaze lingered on me a moment longer before he turned back to Cally, his expression softening slightly. “Well, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to stop by and extend my best wishes. We’ll talk later, Gray.”

With that, Rencen gave a slight nod to Cally and turned to leave. Gray stood still, his body tense until the door clicked shut behind his uncle. Only then did he release a breath, his shoulders slumping slightly as the tension drained from him.

I reached out, gently placing my hand on his arm. “Gray… are you okay?”

He didn’t respond immediately, his eyes still fixed on the door as if expecting Rencen to reappear. Finally, he nodded, though the movement was stiff. “I’m fine,” he said, though his voice lacked conviction. “Just… surprised, that’s all.”

Cally approached us, her expression carefully neutral, but I could see the worry in her eyes. “Gray, what was that about? Why was Rencen here?”

Gray shook his head, his jaw clenched. “I don’t know. But I’ll find out.”

There was a beat of silence, and then he turned to me, his expression softening slightly. “I’m sorry you had to see that, Elina. He’s… not someone I like having around.”

I squeezed his hand reassuringly. “It’s okay. I just want to make sure you’re all right.”

He gave me a small, strained smile. “I will be. Let’s just focus on the rest of the day, okay? It’s still Mom’s birthday, and I don’t want anything to ruin that.”

Cally nodded in agreement, though I could tell she was still uneasy. “You’re right, Gray. We shouldn’t let this spoil the day. Let’s go back to the others.”

We returned to the living room, where the atmosphere had shifted back to something more normal, though there was an undercurrent of unease. Keith and Jane tried to lighten the mood, joking and laughing as they encouraged everyone to continue with the karaoke. Slowly, the tension began to dissipate, replaced by the warmth and camaraderie we had felt earlier.

But I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. Rencen’s visit had left a mark, a sense of foreboding that lingered even as we tried to move past it. And I could see it in Gray’s eyes, too—the worry that he was trying so hard to hide.

As the day went on, I found myself watching him closely, noting the moments when his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes, or when his gaze would drift, lost in thought. Whatever had happened with Rencen, it had shaken him more than he was willing to admit.

Later that evening, after everyone had gone home and the house was quiet again, I found Gray sitting alone in the living room, staring out the window into the darkening sky. I approached him quietly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

“Gray,” I began softly, “you don’t have to keep this all to yourself. If something’s bothering you, you can talk to me.”

He was silent for a long moment, his eyes never leaving the window. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It’s just… complicated, Babe. There are things about my family, about Uncle Rencen, that I wish I could forget. But they have a way of coming back, no matter how much I try to push them away.”

I sat down beside him, taking his hand in mine. “You don’t have to face it alone, though. I’m here for you, whatever it is.”

He looked at me then, his eyes softening as he squeezed my hand. “I know you are. And that means everything to me, Baby. I just… I need to figure some things out on my own first.”

I nodded, understanding his need for space. “Just remember, I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”

He leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “Thank you.”