Page 38 of Home Again

“Ophelia! Get in here,” Lazar yelled to the second swinging door that led to the kitchen. “Ophelia!”

Sebastian stood up from his chair and banged his fists on the table, causing the dishes to jump. “Old man, do not ever yell at Ophelia like that again. Do you hear me?”

Lazar stood up and threw his napkin down on his plate. “Do not disrespect me in my own home, boy.”

“Then learn some manners. We have guests. Don’t holler at a woman who has been like a family member in this household for over twenty-five years.”

Ophelia came out of the swinging door and placed the rib roast in the middle of the table. Then she stood there with her hands on her hips. She stared at Lazar.

Lazar looked from Ophelia back at Sebastian, then he sighed. “Bastian, you’re right. These are stressful times. I don’t know what I was thinking. Forgive me, son.”

“I’m not the one you owe an apology to,” Sebastian gritted out.

Lazar barely turned his head toward Ophelia. “My apologies.”

Ophelia nodded, then left the room.

Sebastian waited for his grandfather to sit back down, then he did the same thing. He fucking hated this place.

Archie reached over for the rib roast. “This looks wonderful.” He served himself a piece then passed it down to MacDougal.

“Well that went well,” Armand said jovially. “Daddy, I have a bit of business up North. Now that the water’s gone down and the bridge is passable, I’m leaving in the morning.”

Lazar frowned at his son. “What in the hell are you talking about? I need you here working with Neil.”

“Daddy, this is important.”

Sebastian looked up from the meat he was putting on his plate, surprised at the almost adult-sounding tone coming out of his uncle’s mouth.

“I don’t give a shit, you’re not leaving.”

Armand put down his wine glass and took a sip of water, then started cutting into the rib roast.