Thatch laughed as I stomped towards him. Then, glowering, I turned and headed back to the car to grab Gramps’s gifts. Thatch was still laughing as I entered the massive, ostentatious lounge where everyone waited.
“Girl!” Gramps exclaimed with a huge smile.
“You’re late,” Mom snapped. I ignored her and hurried over to Gramps. I kissed his cheek, and he rolled his eyes as I gave him his gift.
“Thanks, kid,” he muttered.
“We’ve been waiting on you; I hope dinner isn’t spoiled…” Aunt Thelma sniffed.
“What? By five minutes? If it’s ruined by delaying a few minutes, you’ve got issues,” I shot back.
“Don’t be so rude,” Uncle Thad snapped, and I snorted.
“Tell Thelma not to be so dramatic!” I retorted.
“That’s enough, Allegra!” Mom lost her temper, and I turned to her.
“Oh my God, what happened to you?” I exclaimed.
Gramps choked on the mouthful of drink he’d just taken while Nana giggled. Mom stared, and I couldn’t tell if she was annoyed or what. Clearly, the filler had been overdone, and she looked like a pufferfish.
“Mom, you have to stop that. You look bloody awful,” I continued, and she gasped. At least, I think she did.
“Show your mom some respect!” Dad snapped, and I turned.
“Why?” It was an honest question, and Gramps and Nana broke into laughter.
“Thank God you didn’t turn out like them,” Nana said as she linked her arm through mine.
“Hell no, I don’t need a single thing up my ass!” I retorted as we headed into the dining room.
Aunt Louisa choked, and Uncle Standish glowered. Huh, they could look but wouldn’t start anything because of Gramps’s fortune.
“Do we have to do this every year?” I muttered to Nana.
“I’d prefer a good pizza, not a damn five-course meal with shit we don’t eat,” Nana replied. “But tradition keeps the peace.”
Damon, behind me, began laughing as Thelma and Thad, his parents, turned to stare at him. Damon assumed his place and winked as I sat opposite him.
Puffing up with importance, Thad took the most significant seat at the table, while Thelma sat at the other end. The rest of us fell into our usual places, which hadn’t changed since we were children.
Granddad stared at Thad. “You have the cheek to talk about respect? When did you become the head of the family?”
Thad turned puce. Gramps had never questioned the seating arrangements until now. What was going on?
“Pardon?” Thelma asked from the opposite end of the table.
“I see a grandchild missing. Where’s Aubrey?” Gramps demanded, refusing to sit. Nana remained by his side.
“Aubrey is not welcome while he persists in that ridiculous career,” Thelma stated snootily.
“Yes, we heard you cut the boy off,” Gramps replied as he stood glowering.
“He’s a disgrace and an embarrassment,” Thad thundered. I leapt to my feet as Damon did the same. Both of us were prepared to protect Aubrey.
“Don’t talk about Aubrey like that!” Bradford snapped. He rose beside Damon, both of them ready to defend their brother.
“Much like you then,” Nana sniped at Thad, and I gaped at Damon in shock. Thad blinked.
