The doors flung ajar and shut quickly.
As much as the members of the family weren't all too many, few heads turn to the door and sooner, the hall fell into a second silence before turning to quiet whisperings.
It seemed that clear contemplations had now become a topic for discussion. It was too obvious to Jeremy how much they tried to conceal their speculation over his presence, and reputation.
Leaning over one of the wall end windows, Jeremy bit off his cake and looked out the window over at the garden.
"Goodness gracious, Jeremy" a familiar voice hovered over to him
He turned to see his aunt Meredith in a wide gentle smile and open arms. Quietly, he leaned into her embrace and let go quickly.
"How've you been champ?" His uncle Paul greeted in a tight, short lived side hug.
He nodded as they watched him in quiet silence and warm smiles.
"We've missed you plenty since you left home" she spoke
"Thank you" he finally spoke, easing their tension.
Meredith looked at Paul, making a contemplation to allow Jeremy space. They had always known him to be that type of person, a familiar resemblance to them.
Suddenly, the children of Meredith and Paul came along. The twins, they called them.
"You look well" Berry, the boy spoke with a friendly smile
"Mm-" he nodded
"How could you say that?" Belle, the other twin spoke, clearing off the unsavory reply Jeremy had given "He's lost much weight since the last we saw him" she paused, leaning forward to touch his left biceps "See this?"
Jeremy pulled away shortly as Berry pulled Belle away "That's enough" he turned to Jeremy "We'll be leaving now, see you later"
The twins walked away quietly and soon after, Meredith and Paul did same.
Aunt Meredith and Uncle Paul were one of the many few who welcomed people often. While they had somewhat oblivious children, they were considered a family open to love and care. To Jeremy, they knew to ease tension.
"No wine?"
Another familiar voice came over as Jeremy bit off his cake and looked over at the voice. William, his eldest brother.
"Cake with no wine is incomplete" he joked
Jeremy smiled faintly with a light nod almost like he began considering it. William was one sibling that Jeremy enjoyed company with. They stood in silence as William smiled warmly, clearly just content with seeing him.
They both leaned against the window.
"You must have a lot to say" Jeremy spoke
William chuckled "I must"
A quiet second passed as he gulped down the whole of his wine before turning to Jeremy
"You've changed"
"Mmm", "How so?"
"You used to be somewhat temperamental" William paused, gazing softly at Jeremy "Now", "Now, there's confidence, nonchalance actually"
Jeremy scoffed "I'm not 16 am I?"
William burst into a soft laughter "I haven't seen my favorite sibling in 8 years, how could I forget how witty you were?"
Jeremy chuckled and smiled warmly. In as much as the hall wafted a cold presence, he still remembered the past he had left behind.
At a corner of Jeremy's eyes, a distant length away from him at the corner of the hall was his eldest and only sister Ruby. As their eyes met, she greeted with a small smile while he nodded lightly at her.
Among all his siblings, she was one who thought it her responsibility to ensure the order of the household as a whole. Mother was still alive, father too, but it was clear from a young age that she had loved the Lutman lineage and stood for everything it spoke of.
Somehow amidst the crowd, his immediate elder brother was nowhere to be found. Harry.
The large doors flung open.
Voices grew silent as figures stepped into the hall. Jeremy watched quietly as the figures climbed up the small stepped podium.
As soon as they took their seats, everyone else followed suite.
Suddenly, Jeremy's pupils dilated as a certain face met with his and that's when he remembered, only one presence had a stifling grip over the family.
Like a cold wind, no one could stand him. His father, Reece Lutman.