Grotesquerie by Richard Gavin

Author:Richard Gavin [Gavin, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: Horror, Weird Fiction, Supernatural, Gothic, numinous, Occult
ISBN: 9781988964225
Publisher: Undertow Publications
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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Their walk to the dining room was, to Maxine’s mind, more akin to a museum tour than the surveying of a homestead. Every inch of the abundant walnut wood gleamed as though it was encased in glass. The carpet that lined the grand staircase bore the swirl patterns of vigorous vacuuming. The walls all looked to be freshly painted, and the air was fragrant with lemon oil. But these details quickly paled in Maxine’s awareness, which was growing evermore focused on her internal anxieties. She could feel the familiar invisible vise clamping over her lungs, and was relieved when Xavier, perhaps able to sense her inner workings, slipped his hand into hers and lovingly whispered an instruction for her to breathe. He stopped her at the bottom of the stairs and kissed her lips before escorting her into the dining hall.

The room was like a film set, so grand was its elegance, so meticulous its maintenance and design. At first Maxine was so taken with the scope of the French windows that composed three walls of the hall, that she scarcely registered the carved table that seemed to stretch from one horizon to the other, or the highbacked plush dining chairs, or the fire that roared inside a maw-like hearth of green marble. Opera music strained from speakers that must have been hidden amidst the bookcases. The panelled wall bore family portraits in oil. There was a large standing globe and an antique bronze telescope by the spacious windows.

Maxine’s arm found its way around her husband’s waist. She pressed her hip firmly against his; a silent plea for him to not stray from her, not here, not tonight.

The party appeared, much to Maxine’s horror, to have divided itself according to fusty traditional roles. In one corner, Xavier’s two elder brothers nursed scotches with their father, who looked every inch the elder statesman with his slender face and tamed white hair and eyes like those of a Siberian Husky. Across the room, meanwhile, the wives were helping Mother set out the last of the serving dishes.

Maxine had every intention of following Xavier and inserting herself in the men’s corner, but Xavier’s mother just at that instant announced that dinner was served.

Noting that the place-cards stationed the spouses next to one another brought Maxine a small measure of relief. Xavier pulled out her chair, as did his brothers for their respective wives. Mrs. Whitlock, however, had to seat herself. Maxine found it strange that the father’s outdated views on gender she’d suspected upon entering the room apparently stopped short of chivalry. Both parents assumed the throne-like seats at either end of the table.

Maxine’s movements as she passed the serving china around were as stiff and unnatural as her smile, but as the evening wore on, she found, to her immense relief, that Xavier’s family was cheerier and looser than she’d assumed. His father asked interestedly about her job in human resources, about her background in drama. Several times the entire group erupted with laughter.

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