Big Flight by Zenina Masters

Chapter One
     
     
    Molly finished the last round of sandwiches and trimmed off the crusts. With expert moves, she set up five tea trays with a selection of filled sandwiches and pastries, all handmade at the Wexler Teahouse.
    Molly grinned and brought out the trays to the waiting tables where her sister had already filled all the teapots. One table at a time was dealt tea for two, and when the towers of flavour had been delivered, she returned to the kitchen and tidied up.
    Celeste came in with a smile and a loving stroke over her pregnant belly. “Are you ready for family-gathering night?”
    Molly didn’t even bother looking at her glowing sister. “I am ready. Antonia is closing up tonight, so I will be there on time for once.”
    She scrubbed at the baking pans and set them aside to dry.
    “You could look at me when I am talking to you, Molly.”
    “You are not talking to me, you are talking at me. There is a difference. I will be there on time and I won’t come early. Mom will have plenty of time to hide the fact that she had a dinner party for another avian family and didn’t invite me. Again.”
    Molly glanced at Celeste, and her pretty sister actually flinched. “How long have you known?”
    “Since I came home early after a mandatory movie night when I was eighteen. I respected her decision and hid in a tree until the guests left and my scheduled arrival time had come. You were wearing blue and Sissy was wearing a rose floral party dress.”
    Molly finished cleaning up the kitchen while Celeste leaned against the wall.
    “We didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”
    Molly grimaced. “Yes, mother did. More to the point, she is trying to protect the world at large from learning that one of her children is different.”
    It was as close to a full discussion as they could have with a human in the next room.
    Celeste whispered, “Can you blame her? We are rare enough without one of our family being different.”
    “Celeste, what if your child isn’t all that you expected? Will you do what mom did or will you actually have some common sense?”
    Celeste clutched her belly and left the kitchen for the back door.
    Molly didn’t like to upset her sister, but she had reached a critical decision point. She would tell her family tonight.
     
    Molly smoothed the lines of her dress as she waited in the darkness. For a bird who preferred daylight, she had to spend a lot of time lurking in the shadows.
    When the last car was gone, she got out of her car and crossed through the trees to the house. She was strong; she was determined. She could do this.
    The rest of the family was in the living room having drinks while the evening help was clearing the dining room.
    “Hello, everyone, what did I miss?”
    Celeste looked uncomfortable and moved closer to her husband.
    Robert put his arm around her and drew her close.
    Maryellen Wexler looked at her and sighed. “What do you mean?”
    “I saw the gathering as they left, Mother. I am very tired of pretending that you aren’t hiding me.”
    Edgar Wexler put his arm around his wife. “Don’t speak to your mother that way.”
    Molly looked at her father and nodded. “Right. I thought so. Well, you don’t have to worry. Tomorrow, I go to the Crossroads and I will be out of your hair. I know what you think of my beast, and though we are all part of the same bird family, I understand the shame that you have experienced by my presence.”
    She saw Robert nod slightly.
    Sissy was sitting near the fireplace holding her drink in both hands. There was an engagement ring on her finger.
    “Right. Enough. I will send you a note when I find out where I will be living. I don’t actually expect a reply.” She turned on her heel and left her family home, looking once at her old bedroom.
    She shook off the sadness and headed for her car. She had a bag to pack and some plants to water. If one door closed, another door opened, and she had just slammed the hell out of the first