“Lincoln, something you want to add? Or maybe your girlfriend does?” His face contorts cruelly. “No, nothing? And you’re normally so chatty.” Screw family. I’m going to kill him, and honestly? I’m not sure anyone would stop me.
“We’ve graciously opened up our home to you all because family was important to Pop,” Kyle continues.
A few seats down, Judy lays down her spoon and rolls her eyes.
“You come here every year, pretending to get along, and we ignore what we know is being said behind our backs. But I’ve had enough of being treated like the asshole when I’m the only person in this room who isn’t ashamed to be himself.”
I fucking wish he would be and save us all.
He’s aiming his words at Reed now, no smile to hide his malice anymore. “You don’t even have the honor to take Deacon’s name, but you’ll take everything else? And then you sit there and act like you’re better than us, talking about how family is important when you don’t do shit for us. You took his money, and you kept it all for yourselves. You’re worse than we are, because if Dad had gotten everything like he should have, we would have at least made sure you had something.”
Kyle places both hands on the table, taking the time to glare at every person present. I was wrong. This isn’t solely about money. The prick took his personal failures to make anything of himself and convinced himself it’s our fault. No wonder Mr. Silver’s popularity pissed him off. He’s fucking jealous.
“But now it’s time for you to get what you deserve,” he continues. “Because guess what? Your family isn’t perfect. Isn’t even close. Well, guess what, dickheads? Your brother gets paid to whore his voice out for strangers. All that time you spent wondering how he paid for shit after you cut him off?” Kyle scoffs. “There’s your answer. You’re related to a digital prostitute.”
Darcy is staring daggers at him. “The term is sex worker now, you uneducated twat.”
“Fuck you, Darcy,” Kyle replies.
She leans back and crosses her arms over her chest. “Yes, threatening me with incest is really making you look like less of a wanker.”
The silence that descends is as bleak as I’d imagined it, and Kyle smiles, triumphant, despite the fact that his foot must be throbbing by now.
“I haven’t called a sex line in years. Are they cheaper now?” Betty asks, and Art promptly chokes on his water, his shoulders racking with shakes that I can see are mostly laughter.
I don’t know why I answer her. I blame the shock. “I couldn’t tell you, Nan. I narrate intimate experiences for an online app. It’s not quite the same thing.”
“Not far off,” Kyle sneers.
Betty is nodding. “Oh, that’s nice. I spoke with a lovely young man on one after your grandfather died. He was very patient with me and even helped me change the Wi-Fi password. After that, the sex was a bonus.”
There’s a sharp intake of breath, but it’s simply Darcy gasping for breath while she laughs behind her hand.
Meanwhile, Richard’s gone dark red. He slams one hand on the table. “Mom, that is incredibly inappropriate.” His voice bellows out. But there’s no controlling us now. Kyle’s little gamble just popped the pressure cork on this weekend, and there’s no stuffing it back in.
“Where the hell did you even get the number from?” Judy asks Betty, leaning across the table. “And do you still have it?”
“This is disgusting.” Richard throws his napkin onto this plate and stands, scolding us like children. “You should all be ashamed of yourselves for entertaining this. I’m going to bed.” Helen follows him out, and for a second, I see Kyle debate leaving with them, but he must decide against it.
After all, my brother is yet to say a word.
Sally’s husband stands, looking sheepish, mumbling something about an early night. He takes the kids with him. Dale waves off his family when they leave, undoing his tie and leaving it hung around his neck as he sprawls back in his chair. At the other end of the table, Judy fills her wineglass to the brim and tops Sally up when she gestures for more.
Ivy, my absolute rock, clutches my hand between hers, and I can’t begin to say how grateful I am for her. No matter what happens here tonight, I know things will be okay.
I don’t dare look at Reed.
“Well, if we’re spilling secrets finally,” Mum says, jolting me out of my stupor, “I should admit that I was the one who crashed Dad’s Porsche.”
Dale finishes chugging back his wine. “Of course it was you. You know Dad never forgave me for that.”
Sally scoffs, pulling her hair out of its painful bun. “As if you’re any better, Dale. Or have you forgotten about buying Mason that scholarship when he failed to get accepted anywhere?”
“Jeez. Did everyone here bribe their kids’ way into school?” Ivy asks quietly to herself.
Dale, for his part, almost looks wistful. I already mentioned my family was a shit show, right? “Loopholes used to be cheaper. You should see how much these lobbyists are asking for now.”
“Oh my god, Dale. Would you shut up?” Judy gripes. She, too, has embraced the loosened atmosphere, shedding her rings and earrings in a small pile in front of her. “Unless you’re going to tell us about having a juicy affair or a terminal disease, I don’t want to hear it.”
