"Today is that time of the year. The time of the year I hate the most. The time of the year I truly dread the most."
Edward sighed, the words heavy in his thoughts as he adjusted the stiff collar of his waiter uniform.
The Estate Meetup.
He stood in the foyer of his home, now overrun by perfectly trimmed hedges of social niceties and fake laughter. His mother's idea of "community engagement" was his idea of hell.
"Awnnnnnn, is that Eddy?"
Before he could react, a large blonde woman draped in a pearl necklace stormed toward him with open arms. She wrapped him in a hug that nearly crushed his lungs.
"You're suffocating me!!" Edward gasped, lightly tapping her shoulder in surrender.
"Oh, my bad, Eddy," the woman said with a bubbly laugh, finally letting go.
Edward straightened his tie and cleared his throat. "Nice to meet you too, Aunt Pepper."
"Pepper!" someone else called out.
"Jennifer!"
