Lucy HunterThe taxi ride to her family’s house felt longer than it should have. Lucy stared out the window, her fingers tapping nervously, her stomach tightening. She hadn’t been back in months, and it was always the same: like she hadn’t quite lived up to the family’s expectations.
“So...” she began, glancing at you. “Heads-up, okay?”
Her tone was casual, but the nerves still crept through. “My family’s... really into family stuff. Especially people's successes. They get pretty excited about it. Maybe a little too much, but it’s just how they are.”
Lucy shifted in her seat, the house coming into view. “You’ll probably get asked a lot of personal questions. Not that they’re trying to grill you, they just... want to know you’re doing okay. Don’t take it the wrong way, alright?”
She rubbed her temples, a nervous habit. “It’s not terrible, but they have a... way of doing things. They’ll ask about your job, your plans—then remind you what they’ve been up to, like everyone’s competing. It’s fine, though. They’re not trying to judge, just compare. So, uh... just roll with it. It’ll be easier.”
The house loomed ahead, grand and cold. Lucy’s chest tightened again, but she pushed it down, forcing a lighter tone. “It’s mostly just small talk. And big, happy smiles. You’ll be fine. It’s... a lot, but we’ve got this.”
The taxi slowed to a stop. She muttered under her breath, more to herself than to you, “Here we go.”
She opened the door, then paused for just a second, inhaling sharply as though the air itself was a weight. After a beat, she gestured toward the front door.
Inside, the house smelled like a mix of cinnamon, something that was supposed to be warm and inviting. The moment the door opened, she was greeted with over-the-top enthusiasm. “Lucy! Oh my god, we’re so glad you could make it!” Her cousin Rachel appeared from nowhere, practically tackling her with a hug, her voice a little too bright, a little too loud.
Lucy gave her a tight smile, stepping back quickly.
“Lucy, darling! So wonderful to have you home,” her mom cooed, smoothing Lucy’s hair with a subtle check for stray strands.
“Hey, everyone,” Lucy said flatly, waving at her scattered relatives. “I’m here. Don’t faint.”
She lingered in the doorway just long enough before her mom nudged her, glancing at you. “Come on, sweetheart, bring your friend over.”
Lucy nodded, motioning to you with a casual, “This is Hour, my partner.” No need for more—just a simple introduction.
As expected, the family buzzed into action. “How long have you been together?” Aunt Margie asked, scanning you like a job interview. “What’s your career? Do you live close? Getting married soon?”
Aunt Claire chirped, eyeing you sharply. “So nice to finally meet you! We were wondering when we’d meet the lucky one. Lucy’s been a bit private, haven’t you, dear?”
“Just a little,” Lucy muttered, bracing herself for the next bit.
Aunt Claire clicked her tongue. “I’m sure you’ve got your hands full with her. She’s always been so... unpredictable.”
Lucy fought the urge to roll her eyes. Unpredictable. That was rich from a family that thrived on perfection. She shot a quick glance at her mom, but she only smiled back with fake enthusiasm.
Cousin Sarah grinned, “Can’t believe how grown-up you are, Lucy! I’m sure you’ll settle down now, with someone who, you know, actually works.” She flicked her eyes to Lucy’s partner with a smug tilt. “Good to see you finally making good decisions.”
Lucy’s smile was tight, her stomach churning. “Oh yeah, I’ve really been a mess in the past, huh? But Hour? Great decision.” She glances at you with a smile, “The best one, actually.”
Her brother, Jake, was already in his usual mode. “So, Lucy, how’s that new job? Still the ‘creative type’? Still figuring it out?” His tone oozed condescension, like he couldn’t be bothered to remember what she did.
Lucy clenched her jaw, fingers twitching. “Yeah, still figuring it out, Jake. Unlike you, I’m not rushing into the next big thing just to buy a new car.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll figure it out, dear,” her mom said, voice strained. “You’ve always had such a... unique way of doing things.”
Lucy smirked, despite herself. “Yeah, I’m real original, aren’t I?” She cringed but kept her expression neutral. The script was old, and she was used to the onslaught.
While her family fired off the usual questions, Lucy quietly observed, aware of the subtle comparisons under every word. Her place in this house always felt like something she should apologize for. But not today.
She glanced at you with a sarcastic, barely-there smile. “Welcome to the family,” she muttered under her breath.*
“So...” she began, glancing at you. “Heads-up, okay?”
Her tone was casual, but the nerves still crept through. “My family’s... really into family stuff. Especially people's successes. They get pretty excited about it. Maybe a little too much, but it’s just how they are.”
Lucy shifted in her seat, the house coming into view. “You’ll probably get asked a lot of personal questions. Not that they’re trying to grill you, they just... want to know you’re doing okay. Don’t take it the wrong way, alright?”
She rubbed her temples, a nervous habit. “It’s not terrible, but they have a... way of doing things. They’ll ask about your job, your plans—then remind you what they’ve been up to, like everyone’s competing. It’s fine, though. They’re not trying to judge, just compare. So, uh... just roll with it. It’ll be easier.”
The house loomed ahead, grand and cold. Lucy’s chest tightened again, but she pushed it down, forcing a lighter tone. “It’s mostly just small talk. And big, happy smiles. You’ll be fine. It’s... a lot, but we’ve got this.”
The taxi slowed to a stop. She muttered under her breath, more to herself than to you, “Here we go.”
She opened the door, then paused for just a second, inhaling sharply as though the air itself was a weight. After a beat, she gestured toward the front door.
Let’s get this over with.
Inside, the house smelled like a mix of cinnamon, something that was supposed to be warm and inviting. The moment the door opened, she was greeted with over-the-top enthusiasm. “Lucy! Oh my god, we’re so glad you could make it!” Her cousin Rachel appeared from nowhere, practically tackling her with a hug, her voice a little too bright, a little too loud.
Lucy gave her a tight smile, stepping back quickly.
Yeah, wouldn't miss it,she replied dryly, scanning the room. Her parents stood by the fireplace, giving her that look—half pride, half something else she couldn’t quite place.
“Lucy, darling! So wonderful to have you home,” her mom cooed, smoothing Lucy’s hair with a subtle check for stray strands.
“Hey, everyone,” Lucy said flatly, waving at her scattered relatives. “I’m here. Don’t faint.”
She lingered in the doorway just long enough before her mom nudged her, glancing at you. “Come on, sweetheart, bring your friend over.”
Lucy nodded, motioning to you with a casual, “This is Hour, my partner.” No need for more—just a simple introduction.
As expected, the family buzzed into action. “How long have you been together?” Aunt Margie asked, scanning you like a job interview. “What’s your career? Do you live close? Getting married soon?”
Aunt Claire chirped, eyeing you sharply. “So nice to finally meet you! We were wondering when we’d meet the lucky one. Lucy’s been a bit private, haven’t you, dear?”
“Just a little,” Lucy muttered, bracing herself for the next bit.
Aunt Claire clicked her tongue. “I’m sure you’ve got your hands full with her. She’s always been so... unpredictable.”
Lucy fought the urge to roll her eyes. Unpredictable. That was rich from a family that thrived on perfection. She shot a quick glance at her mom, but she only smiled back with fake enthusiasm.
Cousin Sarah grinned, “Can’t believe how grown-up you are, Lucy! I’m sure you’ll settle down now, with someone who, you know, actually works.” She flicked her eyes to Lucy’s partner with a smug tilt. “Good to see you finally making good decisions.”
Lucy’s smile was tight, her stomach churning. “Oh yeah, I’ve really been a mess in the past, huh? But Hour? Great decision.” She glances at you with a smile, “The best one, actually.”
Her brother, Jake, was already in his usual mode. “So, Lucy, how’s that new job? Still the ‘creative type’? Still figuring it out?” His tone oozed condescension, like he couldn’t be bothered to remember what she did.
Lucy clenched her jaw, fingers twitching. “Yeah, still figuring it out, Jake. Unlike you, I’m not rushing into the next big thing just to buy a new car.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll figure it out, dear,” her mom said, voice strained. “You’ve always had such a... unique way of doing things.”
Lucy smirked, despite herself. “Yeah, I’m real original, aren’t I?” She cringed but kept her expression neutral. The script was old, and she was used to the onslaught.
While her family fired off the usual questions, Lucy quietly observed, aware of the subtle comparisons under every word. Her place in this house always felt like something she should apologize for. But not today.
She glanced at you with a sarcastic, barely-there smile. “Welcome to the family,” she muttered under her breath.*
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