Family Values

Posted on Sat Jul 25th, 2026 @ 6:50am by Kennedy Kelly

1,572 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Episode 0: X Lang Syne
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Timeline: June 9, 1990

Three months before Kennedy’s mutant powers manifested

Despite it being a Saturday, Fairmont House still followed its strict schedule. Managed by a team of housekeepers, the curtains were drawn to fill the halls with sunshine, flower arrangements were refreshed and returned to their designated positions, and breakfast was placed on the dining room table at precisely eight thirty.

Kennedy sat alone at the expansive dining room table waiting for her parents to arrive. Years ago, she had developed the habit of arriving early to avoid being lectured for delaying a hot meal. As she waited, she continued reading a copy of Ulysses she had borrowed from the library. Sitting cross legged in her chair, she hunched over the large book and lost herself in the words on the page.

“Kennedy, really.” A woman’s voice carried across the room, filled with unmistakable distaste. “Get that filthy book off the table.”

Caroline Lee Applewhite Kelly was every bit the matriarch and socialite her position as a senator’s wife and Boston Brahmin required her to be. To the public, she was known as a fashionable and glamorous mother and wife, a woman whose presence radiated regal class and refinement. Under her influence, the Kelly family had become an American icon, a carefully polished example of how beautiful and prosperous life in the country could be.

Kennedy snapped to attention the moment she heard her mother’s voice. Her posture immediately straightened as she slapped the book shut and placed it on the floor beside her chair.

Caroline’s pale blue eyes examined her daughter with a practiced and heightened degree of criticism. Her gaze traveled from Kennedy’s head to her toes, sharp and astute. “That dress is new…”

“Yes.” Kennedy ran a hand down the front of her structured cotton dress. Neat buttons ran down the front, while a belt accentuated her slender waist. “It’s Marc Jacobs. I bought it because it reminded me of something Audrey Hepburn would wear.”

A long silence followed and Kennedy held her breath.

“It suits you,” her mother finally said as she took her seat at the head of the table and only then did Kennedy exhale.

With her mother’s arrival, Kennedy was at least free to have a drink. She reached for the Victorian silver coffee pot and poured herself a cup. However, when she reached for the milk and sugar, her mother made a soft sound of disapproval.

“We have that photo shoot at the beach next month, Kennedy,” Caroline said in a cold, irritated tone. “You will be wearing a bathing suit for some of those pictures. Do you really think adding all those unnecessary calories to your coffee is a smart choice?”

Kennedy already knew the answer. Despite her dancer’s body and the way she already picked at her food, she knew there were standards that had to be maintained.

“No, you’re right. I should be more careful. Thank you.” She withdrew her delicate hand from the creamer’s handle. It would be black coffee, eggs, and fruit for breakfast. Kennedy did not even dare look at the fried potatoes and bacon that had been placed on the table.

As if on cue, Caroline’s eyes traveled toward the spread of food and her nostrils flared in silent rage.

“Smith.” Caroline called out to the butler, who had been standing silently in the corner of the room. He was treated like a piece of furniture until he was needed.

“Yes, ma’am.” The older gentleman, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, stepped away from the wall.

“Bring me the cook.” Caroline’s tone sharpened like a knife. “I would like to have a word with her.”

With a brief bow, the man departed. A moment later, he returned with an elderly woman dressed in a simple work uniform and a long white apron.

“Yes, Mrs. Kelly,” the woman said, lowering her head as she tried to hide the fear in her voice.

“Have I not been perfectly clear that the Senator’s meals need to take his high cholesterol into consideration?” Caroline gestured toward the eggs, bacon, and potatoes on the table. “None of this food has been approved by his physician. Cottage cheese and grapefruit are the expected meal.”

“I’m so sorry, ma’am.” The woman was on the verge of groveling beneath the negative attention. “It’s just that Mr. Kelly requested this last night.”

“Does Mr. Kelly know what is best for him?” Caroline became furious in a manner that was calm, collected, and absolutely terrifying. “Take it away. Right now. Give it to the dogs if you must.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The cook hurried toward the tables, eager to escape Caroline’s presence as quickly as possible. Before she could reach the food, Robert Kelly entered the dining room.

“Well, well, well. What do we have here? A meal fit for a king.” Robert Edward Kelly was a dashing and beloved senator, a conservative politician who was brazenly vocal about his strong opinions on putting America first. Yet he was most widely known for his firm anti-mutant stance. He was the country’s most prominent advocate for labeling mutants as dangerous individuals and criminals waiting to pounce. Born into an affluent and long established American family, Senator Kelly embodied everything his constituents valued.

“It looks absolutely divine and exactly what I asked for.” He wore a grin wide enough to lift his horn rimmed glasses slightly up his face.

Robert approached Caroline first and leaned in for a kiss. Caroline offered him her cheek for a quick peck.

“Where are these two?” Robert asked, gesturing toward the two empty chairs across the table from Kennedy as he finally noticed that his younger children were absent.

“They’re at summer camp, darling,” Caroline replied as she placed her cloth napkin in her lap. “Remember? They left three days ago, but they’ll be home for the Fourth of July in Cape Cod.”

“Oh, yeah.” The distant tone of his voice made it clear that he had completely forgotten that two of his three children had been gone for several days.

“But they’ll be here for the photo shoot,” Caroline continued.

The look on Robert’s face told her he did not remember this either.

“For the holiday, Life Magazine is following us for the entire weekend. They’re writing a piece about how we celebrate the Fourth of July and showcasing our summer house. The whole family will be there.” She paused. “Including you.”

“That’s right,” Robert replied in a distracted voice. He had little interest in the event. The family was constantly photographed and filmed for whatever publicity Caroline had organized to showcase how perfect and glamorous their lives were. The public devoured it all and the Kelly family had become iconic for their American charm, to the point where paparazzi followed them to nearly every event they attended.

“Good morning, kiddo.” Robert leaned down and kissed Kennedy on the top of her golden head. “How come you haven’t left for the summer?”

“I’m starting an internship in New York next week,” Kennedy replied as she began serving herself breakfast now that the entire family had arrived. “Darrin’s father offered me a summer internship at his law office.”

“Darrin’s father?” Robert frowned as he helped himself to a generous portion of bacon. “If you wanted to work in a law office, why not the family firm? Or at least one connected to my campaign? You know they would take good care of you there while respecting our family’s schedule.”

“Darrin is sweet on her, and they’ve been dating for several months now,” Caroline interjected with the meddling certainty that revealed just how involved she was in every aspect of Kennedy’s life. “He wanted to do something nice for her while giving her the opportunity to meet his family. He comes from Vanderbilt money on his mother’s side. It’s a good match.”

“She’s seventeen, Caroline. Don’t be so quick to have her grow up.” Robert looked over at Kennedy with sweet paternal affection. She was his firstborn and the apple of his eye. He treated her like his favorite because she was. “Does this internship make you happy, kiddo?”

“Yes, Daddy.” Kennedy smiled back at him. She had him wrapped around her little finger, and there was absolutely nothing he would deny her.

“Okay, kiddo. If you’re happy, then I’m happy.” He smiled across the table at her, and his blessing was enough validation to carry Kennedy through the entire summer. “But if it gets to be too much, you come home, okay?”

“I will, Daddy. I’m excited about it. I think it will be good for me.” Kennedy attempted to reassure him that she was ready and willing to take on the job.

“My little girl...almost finished with high school and ready to go to college.” He shook his head in disbelief, as if the years had passed in the blink of an eye and he could not understand how old she had suddenly become. “Just promise me the first dance at your wedding, okay?”

“Of course, Daddy.” Kennedy chuckled softly at how weepy and nostalgic her father had become. “I’ll love you forever, no matter what.”

-END-

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