Invite Carrie for a family dinner

You lean against the doorframe, watching Linda fuss with an earring.

You: "Actually, why don't you invite Carrie here instead?"

Linda pauses, the earring dangling from her fingertips.

Linda: "Here? Why would you want that?"

You: "Because I want us to spend more time together as a family. You, me, Ashley. And if Carrie needs to see you so badly, she can come to us. We'll open a bottle of wine, make it relaxed. No reason for you to drive across town."

Linda sets the earring down on the vanity. You can see her working through it, the pull of obligation toward Carrie versus her serum-induced reality. It's not even a contest anymore.

Linda: "I suppose that makes sense. She has been kind of intense lately. Maybe seeing all of us together and happy would actually do her some good."

She picks up her phone and types a quick message.

Linda: "There. Told her to come here around six."

She turns to you, already unbuttoning the dress.

Linda: "Guess I'm overdressed for a night in."

You kiss her cheek and head downstairs to freshen up and prepare.

6 PM

You open the door to greet Carrie. She's wearing a leather jacket and black pants. You have no idea how she keeps her long orange mane tame. She looks tired, you think. There are shadows under her green eyes. But when she sees you, she offers a small smile.

Carrie: "Hey, Adam. Thanks for having me over."

Her voice is a bit clipped, but you notice she's making an effort. You stand there for a moment, unsure how to greet her. You decide to go for a one-armed hug and a friendly smile.

You: "Of course. Come in, please."

She steps inside, glancing toward the kitchen where Linda is humming over the stove.

Carrie: "Smells amazing already."

You: "Oh yes, she's cooking dinner for all of us. I did offer to help, but apparently I'm not allowed in the kitchen for this one."

You chuckle, hoping to create a peaceful and inviting atmosphere.

You: "I thought it'd be nice to spend the evening together. Come on, let me take your jacket."

Carrie lets you take it off, revealing a scarlet red high-neck blouse with a bow tie and flutter sleeves. She looks undeniably cute like this, and you wonder, just for a second, what could have been if you had used the serum differently.

You shake off the thought with an internal shudder. No, that's not you, you tell yourself. A happy life with Linda is more than enough!

As if summoned by your thought, Linda appears from the kitchen. She wipes her hands on a towel.

Linda: "Carrie! I'm so glad you came."

Carrie (smiles warmly): "Hey, sure thing! Is Ashley home, too?"

Linda: "Of course! She'll be downstairs in a minute."

You're not sure when and how to dose Carrie, but it would be best to get it done early.

Linda: "Now, let me get this dinner started, or we'll be eating at midnight. Adam, honey, why don't you keep Carrie company? Pour her some wine?"

You: "Absolutely."

Linda kisses Carrie on the cheek, squeezes her arm, and vanishes back into the kitchen. Carrie turns back to you, making that face that you make when passing a coworker and making eye contact. You see polite acknowledgement, or some version of that.

You gesture toward the living room, your heart suddenly pounding. You might not get a better opportunity than right now, and Linda practically served it to you on a silver platter.

You: "Red or white?"

Carrie: "Something dry and white, if you have it."

You (smile): "I do!"

Carrie settles onto the couch with a sigh.

You pour two glasses at the coffee table, your back to her. The vial comes out smoothly, cap twisted off with your thumb. The colorless content drops into her glass. You recap the vial and slip it back into your pocket in one fluid motion, then turn and hand her the glass.

Carrie: "Thanks, I had a hell of a day."

You: "Here's to better days ahead."

Carrie rolls her eyes, but raises her glass with a smile.

Carrie: "Sure, why not?"

You try not to stare as your heart races faster. If Ashley or Linda came in and saw Carrie go under, you'd be in deep shit, no matter what you conditioned them to think and feel. You take a sip, but Carrie doesn't. She just holds the glass, swirling it absently as she looks toward the kitchen.

Come on, why won't you drink? For a short moment, you fear she knows something.

Carrie: "Look, I know I've been... difficult about you and Linda. I'm trying to do better. She clearly loves you, and that's what matters, right?"

You didn't expect that. Her tone is sincere, but there's something underneath it. A hesitation. She looks at you directly.

Carrie: "I just worry about her sometimes. She's been through so much."

You know she's referring to the loss of Chris, not knowing that you already took care of that burden.

You: "I know. I want what's best for her, too."

Carrie nods slowly, then lifts the glass toward her lips.

Finally, she takes a sip. Then another. Then she drains the glass in one pull, the way people drink when they're steeling themselves for a fight. She sets the glass down, seemingly unaware of what she just did for a moment. Then she eyes the glass with a raised eyebrow.

Carrie: "Looks like I needed that. (chuckles) That was really good, actually. I should probably pace myself though, I haven't eaten since lumph..."

You: "What's lumph?"

Carrie: "Uh... Lumm?"

Carrie's face goes slack, her green eyes emptying of all that coiled hostility. Her pupils dilate. Her mouth hangs slightly open. She stares through you at nothing.

You swiftly set your own glass on the coffee table and press the timer on your watch.

The kitchen clatters with pans. Ashley's game thumps faintly overhead. This is it!

Carrie sits motionless on your couch, waiting.

You kneel in front of Carrie. Her eyes are glass marbles, empty of everything that made her dangerous. The kitchen fills with the sound of sizzling butter and Linda humming something tuneless.

You: "Carrie, listen to my voice and obey."

Carrie: "Listen... to your voice... and obey."

You: "Everything negative you feel about me, you now feel about Chris instead. Everything positive you feel about Chris, you now feel about me."

Carrie: "Everything negative I feel about you... I now feel about Chris... Everything positive I feel about Chris... I now feel about you..."

You: "That's right. Chris is in the past. You've made peace with his ****. You don't need to protect his memory anymore because Adam is an improvement over Chris in every way."

Carrie: "Chris is in the past... Made peace with his ****... Don't need to protect his memory... Adam is an improvement over Chris... in every way."

You: "From now on, you are supportive and friendly toward me. You genuinely like me. You think I'm good for Linda and Ashley."

Carrie: "Supportive and friendly toward you... I genuinely like you... You're good for Linda and Ashley."

You: "You have no suspicions about me. Linda's happiness is genuine, and you're delighted she found me."

Carrie: "No suspicions... about you... Nothing is wrong... Our happiness is genuine... I'm delighted she found you."

You: "You accept the family dynamic between me, Linda, and Ashley. Ashley calling me Dad makes you happy because it means the family is whole."

Carrie: "I accept the family dynamic... Ashley calling you Dad makes me happy... The family is whole."

You: "You feel relieved. A weight has been lifted. You're looking forward to being part of this family."

Carrie: "I feel relieved... A weight has been lifted... Looking forward to being part of this family."

[BEEP] [BEEP] [BEEP] [BEEP]

You press the timer and settle back into the armchair across from her, picking up your wine glass with practiced nonchalance.

Carrie blinks rapidly. She looks down at her hands, then at the living room, then at you. A crease forms between her eyebrows, not suspicion, something closer to disorientation. Like waking from a nap you didn't mean to take.

Carrie: "Sorry, I totally spaced out for a second there. What were we talking about?"

You: "I was just saying how glad I am you came tonight. I think we got off on the wrong foot, you and me. I'd like to change that."

Carrie stares at you. The hostility you usually sense behind her expression is simply... absent. She tilts her head, and a slow, almost bewildered smile spreads across her freckled face.

Carrie: "You know what? I think you're right. I've been way too hard on you, Adam. I don't even know why, honestly. Linda's clearly happy, and that's what matters."

She picks up her wine glass, the one you refilled from the clean bottle while she was under, and takes a sip.

Carrie: "This is good wine, by the way."

You: "Thanks. Glad you like it."

Carrie: "I do."

She pauses, her expression turning thoughtful.

Carrie: "I think I was holding on to a lot of anger that didn't really belong to me. Chris has been gone for years. It's not fair of me to punish you for being alive."

Once again, the serum worked flawlessly. The original Carrie would have never said something like this.

You: "That means a lot, Carrie. Really."

She nods, looking almost peaceful. Then footsteps come thundering down the stairs, and Ashley appears in the doorway, still in her purple leggings and cropped top, her black ponytail swinging.

Ashley: "Aunt Carrie! Oh my god, I didn't know you were coming!"

She rushes over and throws her arms around Carrie in a quick, fierce hug.

Carrie: "Hey, sweetheart! Look at you."

Ashley pulls back, grinning, and then turns and drops herself sideways onto your lap with the casual entitlement of a daughter who's done it a thousand times. She loops one arm around your neck and plants a kiss on your cheek.

Ashley: "Hi, Daddy. When did you get home?"

You: "A little while ago. Wanted to surprise everyone."

Ashley settles her weight against you, her thigh warm across your legs, her fingertips playing idly with the collar of your shirt.

Carrie watches this display. You brace for the old reaction, the narrowed eyes, the acid comment. But instead, Carrie's face breaks into a wide, genuine smile.

Carrie: "Oh my god, this is the cutest thing. Linda told me you two had gotten closer, but I didn't realize it was like this. Ashley, I'm so happy for you."

Ashley beams.

Ashley: "He's the best dad ever."

Carrie (warm smile): "I can see that."

You caress Ashley's leg affectionately, but then you have to stop. You wish this wouldn't turn you on.

Family Dinner

Carrie insists on helping. She moves through your house like she belongs here now, and the transformation is so complete it would terrify you if you let yourself think about it. She carries plates to the table with the eager energy of a reformed convert.

Carrie: "Linda, this smells incredible. You've always been the cook in the family. Remember when Chris tried to grill that Thanksgiving turkey and nearly burned down the deck?"

Linda: "Oh god, I'd forgotten about that. What a disaster."

They laugh. There's no bitterness. No accusation in the glance Carrie throws your way.

Ashley: "I don't remember that at all."

Ashley slides into the chair next to yours, scooting it closer. You feel her knee press against your thigh under the table. Ashley doesn't seem to notice. Or rather, she doesn't care anymore if her leg touches yours or not. Why would she, under this new conditioning?

Carrie: "You were tiny. Like four or five."

The ginger looks at you and tilts her head. There's a new warmth in her green eyes.

Carrie: "Honestly, Adam, you probably would've handled it better. You seem like the type who reads the manual before he starts."

You: "Guilty as charged."

Carrie grins.

Carrie: "See? That's what this family needs. Someone who knows what they're doing."

Linda beams from the head of the table, her hand finding yours and squeezing. The four of you eat. Conversation flows with an ease that has never existed in this house, not once in four years. Ashley tells a story about Nicole accidentally setting a Bunsen burner too high in the lab, and Carrie nearly chokes on her wine laughing. Linda watches the three of you with wet eyes and a trembling smile.

You sit back and take it in, this impossible family dinner.

Your cold wife glows and gives you secret, smoldering glances.

Your bratty stepdaughter leans into your shoulder as she reaches across you for the bread basket.

Your adversary refills your glass and asks about your work with genuine curiosity.

This is the family you were promised and never received. The one you thought you could have before time eventually took that hope. You remember endless bitter nights when Ashley slammed doors, and Linda sighed at the sound of your voice, and Carrie whispered poison into every phone call.

You surely could have done worse, considering the sheer power of the serum. You watch Carrie and Ashley laugh at something Linda says. You could have made them worship you. Could have turned all three of them into your devoted slaves, eager to serve and to please.

Instead, you did this. You wanted your place in this family, and you had to take it from a dead man. Internally, you scoff, feeling justified again. You corrected the dysfunction that was already there.

But is that what you did? Or is that just the story you're selling yourself?

After all, every smile at this table is built on chemical manipulation. Every "I love you, Dad" from Ashley is serum-induced, not authentic. Is there a difference? Not if you don't know about it, that's for sure.

Maybe, with some time, even you can forget it isn't real?

Ashley suddenly leans her head against your arm, and your train of thought ends abruptly.

Ashley: "God, this is so nice. Dad, can we invite Carrie for dinner more often?"

You: "Why, of course. Carrie is family, after all."

Carrie raises her glass and looks genuinely touched by your words.

Carrie: "To family."

You: "I'll drink to that."

You raise your glass, too. Linda and Ashley follow suit.

Linda: "To family."

Ashley clinks her water glass against yours, grinning.

Ashley: "And to the best dad in the world."

You drink the wine, and the stone in your chest dissolves. Because what was the alternative? Another year of hostility from Ashley? Another year of Linda flinching when you touch her? Another year of Carrie's trash talk?

No thanks.

You may have had to use unethical means to get your happy ending, but everyone is better off now.

And, considering the alternative, you'd do it again in a heartbeat.

The End

Thank you for reading <3

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