Mister Jackson is already in the sitting room waiting for them. He is reading through a newspaper as he waits.
Edna and Malik walk in and he smiles. He shakes hands with his son and hugs Edna with a happy expression on his face.
Edna is not expecting this at all. The main reason why she didn't want to come is that she thought that the hostility towards her would be overwhelming.
Why is Mister Jackson being so friendly? Why is Keith behaving as if he wants her?
Malik pulls out a chair for her and she sits. He does the same too and just as they settle down, Keith stumps into the room.
There is something angry and mean about his walking and the way he briefly greets his father before he loudly pulls a chair to seat down.
Edna ignores him, pretending to be more interested in the silverware that is before her than her tantrum-throwing husband.
Malik is right beside her and she feels the warmth of his hand on her knee as he gives it a light squeeze.
Her face is down but she smiles, she knows he sees her acknowledging what he did for her.
" Keith, you don't look okay. " Mister Jackson observes.
" No, I'm fine. " Keith angrily pulls at his tie. " I just think I need a drink. "
He reaches out for a glass and pours a generous amount of wine into his glass. He looks at Edna before he sets the bottle down.
"Edna, you want one?" He asks.
" What's your problem? Leave her alone, man. " Malik frowns in anger.
"Hey, boys, I won't have this today. " Their father warns. " I just want to have a peaceful dinner and then you call can go back into whatever holes you crawled out of. "
Keith keeps his eyes on Edna, even as he drinks from the glass. It's uncomfortable for her and she tries to look away but each time that she looks again, he is still looking.
She decides to ignore him and just pretend that he doesn't exist here. What's he going to do to her? Force her to look at him?
The servants start to serve them dinner, it's quite exotic, but it looks beautiful.
More wine is brought and Keith pours himself even a fuller glass, no one tries to stop him.
After a short prayer, everyone starts to eat. Edna bends her head slowly as she eats with the others. She is glad that they aren't speaking, maybe this is going better than she thought it would.
"So, Edna. Hope everything is alright with you?" Mister Jackson starts and she groans under her breath.
"Yes, Mister Jackson, I'm fine. " She smiles.
" It's a pity that you are choosing to leave our family. " He reaches for the salt. " It's a pity that we wanted you to stay with us forever, but you don't want that. "
Malik drops his cutlery so loudly that Edna thinks he is going to crack his plate, but he doesn't.
"How I wish we would all just eat. " he smiles through his anger. " This is a really tasty meal and just wish everyone would just shut the fuck up. "
"Hey, don't speak to Dad like that. " Keith fires at him.
"Don't even speak you piece of shit! " Malik boils.
"Enough!" Mister Jackson roars. " If you guys won't give me some peace, I am telling you that I am going to find a gun and shoot you both dead. "
It seems that his threat gets to them because they fall silent. He shakes his head and the smile returns to his face as he looks at Edna.
"Yes, Edna?" He leans against his elbows. " We were speaking. "
She nods, nervously.
" Yes, I remember. " She says. " I didn't choose to leave your family, it's just that Keith and I are so different, it's better if we are away from each other. "
Keith hits his hand against the table and laughs, almost making her jump out of her skin.
Mister Jackson is calm on his side. He reaches out for the napkin and wipes the corners of his mouth.
"Differences?" He hums. " Differences that are so great that they can't be amended? Can you tell me what they are?"
"Dad, I wish you would just leave her alone." Malik sighs. " She came here for dinner and not to be harassed with your questions, enough already. "
" Are you going to sit there and let him talk to you like that, father?" Keith laments. " This guy is disrespecting you, and you are going to let that slide?"
Mister Jackson isn't listening to his son, his eyes are only for Edna. It seems they are speaking, but with their eyes.
It lasts for a few minutes and just like that, he looks away. He stands up from the table and starts to walk away.
" Malik, come with me. I have something I would like to discuss with you. "He calls
Malik shoots his brother an evil glare as he stands up to his feet. He remembers his promise to Edna and he helps her up too.
" Leave Edna to eat. " His father instructs. " It's a boring discussion, she is going to be bored anyway. "
Malik looks at Edna she looks at him, her eyes are huge, and begging him not to. She doesn't want to let alone with Keith and he knows this.
Keith is sitting there like he wouldn't hurt a fly but everyone here knows him. He pulled a gun on Edna and Malik, he can as well do more than to hurt a fly.
" You will be fine. " Malik bends and whispers to her. " I'm just a few rooms away, he can't do anything to you. "
" Are you seriously trying to shield her from him?" His father snares. " She is his wife for goodness sake. "
" I will be fine, go. " She pushes him away gently. She knows that if she doesn't do this he isn't going to leave.
She tried to pretend, try to smile, but it is still evident that she doesn't feel safe with Keith.
He wipes his chin and reluctantly walks away. He promises himself not to spend more than ten minutes with his father, he will come right back to her.
Edna's fingers nervously entwine around each other. She keeps her eyes on her plate as she can't eat anymore, her appetite has gone through the window.
She hears Keith pouring another glass of wine and hears him push it toward her.
She looks up, to see him edging the glass as closer to her as he can. She takes the glass from him and looks at her plate again.
"Thanks. " She mumbles, she doesn't sip from the glass though.
He leans back against his chair as he gulps down the wine. After he is done with the glass, he doesn't pour himself another one, he helps himself directly from the bottle.
" Why are you putting on Malik's perfume?" He rubs his hand over his head as if he has a headache. " I thought it was just him then I figured that the stench is still here even though he is gone."
Edna's heart starts to beat again but then she remembers that he can't hurt her anymore and that she doesn't owe him an answer.
" I don't know what you are talking about. " She bravely answers and he laughs.
" I thought you were smart, Edna. " He mocks. " How is it that you allowed Malik to deceive you like this? He just wants to have sex with you. "
" Keith you think that this is about Malik, but it's not. " Edna can't help but say. " I'm not leaving you because he told me, I'm leaving because I want to live, I have chosen life. "
Keith laughs loudly and throws his head back. Like he has heard a great joke from a very good comedian. Edna thinks he has gone nuts, he has gone crazy.
" Well, then." Keith looks at her, his eyes are dark. " Since you have decided to be stubborn, we will take this to court. "
"Fine then." Edna doesn't blink. " See you in Court. "
Keith slowly gets up and walks toward her. He sits beside her and leans towards her.
He takes her face in his hand and pulls her till she is close to him, her heart is now pounding, what's he trying to do?
He moves slowly to her neck and inhales slowly before lapping at the skin with his tongue.
She tries to break out of the grip, but it's not happening.
He pulls her even closer and tightens his Groot around her jaw till she winches, she is in pain.
" It doesn't matter how long it's going to take me. " He tells her. " I am going to wait to get get you back again. And when that happens, I am going to tie you up on my bed and fuck the hell out of you while I remember you of today. "
As shutter as those words leaves his mouth, he is giving her chills.
" Malik can't have you, Edna. " He laughs. " Not when I am alive and breathing. "