Jane flinched. “Jake, how is working from home going?”
“Oh, you know, working hard. Hardly working. Depends on the day.”
Phoebe stole a glance at Olivia, who seemed on edge.
“It’s not a real job, like Perry’s. But it’s something. At least I have more time now to spend with Luci and Olivia.” He smiled at Olivia, but Phoebe could see that it didn’t reach his eyes.
Perry cleared his throat. “Well, maybe if I was the golden child, I wouldn’t have had to bust my rear so hard trying to please everyone else.”
Phoebe snorted.
“Perry,” Jake interjected. “No one could keep up with you. Four-point-oh GPA. Track star. George Washington scholarship. Jeez, I was lucky to eat at the same table as you.”
Edward raised his glass. “Now, now. Your mother and I were proud of each and every one of you just the same.”
Jane gulped her wine. “Well. Not always.”
“And we still are,” Edward went on.
Olivia cleared her throat. “Can someone please pass the chicken?”
“We just wanted you all to be happy,” Jane went on, spearing a piece of her own. Then, “Phoebe, pass the chicken to Olivia!”
Phoebe was too busy glaring at Rob across the table to hear her. “Happy. Which is all I want for my boys.”
“There’s nothing happy about bankruptcy,” Rob mumbled around a mouthful of food. Thankfully, no one else seemed to hear.
“You and Dad did make us happy,” Jake insisted, glancing between his parents at either end of the table. “You guys gave us everything. This lake, this house. Your love and support.”
“You were all lucky to grow up here and in a big family like this,” Olivia chimed in, softly. “It’s exactly what I always hoped for Luci.”
Jane tipped her head appreciatively and laughed. “Oh, honey. We don’t deserve either one of you.”
Edward raised his glass again. “It’s wonderful to have you.” Helooked around at each of his offspring, eyes crinkling. “Look at you all. Grown up and thriving.”
“Some of us more than others,” Perry quipped, raising his glass haltingly before tipping it back.
“Why do you say that?” Phoebe asked, setting her own down.
“Because you’re still all coming to me. Jake needed a job. You needed money.”
“I got my own job,” Jake interjected. “In the end, I didn’t need your help.”
“Because I wouldn’t get you a job, not after the last one I secured for you and you blew.”
Rob set down his fork with a clatter. “You asked your brother for money? Phoebe, we agreed.”
Phoebe swallowed hard. “We agreed on nothing. I’m just trying to save our house.”
Edward opened and closed his mouth. “What’s wrong with the house?”
“And you.” Perry pointed across the table at Jake. “You’re still living like life is one big party. Letting Emma drink. Encouraging her to be like you!”
Elsie took a spoon and clanged it against her water glass, silencing everyone if only for a beat. “Oh, I don’t like this talk. I can feel our family tree shaking right up to its branches.”
“Tree?” Patrick asked. “What tree?”
“Nana is right,” Jane told them all. “Enough of this. Let’s eat.”
