I take slow sips from my tea as I watch the room explode. They all dive on top of the present like… wolves.
“Eli, what’s this about?” Jay sounds amused.
“As you can see, it’s a McKenna board game. It’s got all our businesses and careers on it, along with little pawns of us. The goal is to collect properties and squeeze money out of them. Basically what Jay does every day.”
Jay throws his head back in laughter, raising his mug of tea. “Brilliant!”
“So I can pick Finn as my pawn and claim Effy’s gallery?” Joan asks, a sly grin tugging at her lips.
“That’s right,” Eli says. “Or you could go for Tom’s sex shop, Luca’s football career, Cheryl’s coffeeshops—or your nightclub. You can even collect instruments and start a band.”
“And Tom.” Eli turns to him now. “If the dice sends you to rehab, you’ll have to sit out three turns!”
Everyone bursts into laughter, including Tom, who shakes his head but smiles.
“Don’t worry,” I tell him, my words meant only for his ears. “I’ll keep you occupied for three turns. Maybe even longer.”
Tom’s mouth curves into a smirk, a playful spark appearing in his eyes.
“How about I end the game, and they can all fuck off with their capitalism?”
Our hands intertwine. “Let’s run from capitalism.”
Jay steps in front of the fireplace.
Two claps and his loyal audience quiets on command.
“That is one hell of a great present, Eli. Thank you!”
The room applauds again, with Eli offering a small bow.
Jay picks up the board game and makes a slow circle, holding it out so everyone can see.
“This amazing board game represents everything our family stands for. As our credo goes: loyalty and…”
He stops in front of Tom.
“Uh…honesty,” Tom says.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Joan reach for Effy’s hand. For a moment I don’t see them as they are now.
I see two little girls. The older one holding on to the younger because she’s the braver one. It breaks my heart.
I see myself.
Jay returns to the fireplace.
“Honesty. It’s the bare minimum we can ask of each other, wouldn’t you agree?”
Everyone murmurs in agreement, heads nodding.
“It’s the bare minimum we can expect in return for our hospitality, don’t you think?”
Another round of silent nods.
I swallow hard, my throat dry. This isn’t about their culty family values. This is about me. My chest tightens as I realize where this is going. He’s taking his revenge for what happened this morning. For standing up to him, beating him at his stupid clay target game.
I never thought the McKenna’s could be this quiet. I can hear the crack of the fire, the sound of my own pulse.
