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No. His parents surrounded themselves with worldly gifts from foreign leaders. Artifacts meant to distract visitors from noticing everything was an illusion.
Jaxson tried to change the subject as they walked to the dining room. "The grounds look magnificent. Juan sure has everything blooming beautifully."
He caught the panic in his mother's face just as they entered the dining room. His father was seated at the head of the table, talking on his cell phone while watching something on the laptop in front of him. His only acknowledgment of Jaxson was a small nod in his direction.
His mother leaned in to whisper, "Don't talk about Juan with your father."
Jaxson turned to see his mother's blush. He had no idea what that was about, but was curious.
"Jaxson. Welcome home." His father had finally ended his call, but didn't bother to stand to greet his son.
"Thanks, but it's just a visit."
Unlike his mother, his comment had no effect on his father. "Of course. Of course. You're off living your life in parts unknown. I'm just lucky you had some time off for a short visit. This is a big week for me."
Typical. It's always about him.
"Yeah, I've been on vacation for a few weeks, but I'm headed back to Europe soon."
They'd taken their seats at the end of the long dining table. His father at the end, as always, while Jax sat across from his mother.
The second their asses hit the chairs, two serving girls in pressed grey uniform dresses came in with the first course. Only his parents would have a formal luncheon for three on a Thursday noon. And for their son, no less. He wasn't sure why it pissed him off, but it did. It was in direct conflict of the real life he'd been enjoying with his lovers. Eating breakfast cereal or cold pizza and watching old reruns. Playing board games, video games and laughing.
Not much laughing went on in this house. It made him sad for his mother.
An awkward silence had fallen over the threesome. Jaxson tried to come up with a topic—anything—that wouldn't incite an argument with his father. Since they disagreed on almost everything, it didn't leave many subjects available.
"So have you been doing much traveling?"
Instead of answering, his father stopped the soupspoon half way to his mouth to stare. "Don't you watch the news?"
Jaxson hated to tell him, but he actually avoided watching the news as much as possible just to stay away from stories about his father that would piss him off.
"I'm afraid you'll have to fill me in. I've been pretty busy."
"I'm running for a national office. I travel every single day."
"Yeah, well I guess I meant for fun. You know... vacation... golfing... swimming... maybe sleeping in?"
"I don't have time for goofing off. There's too much to do." The elder man's voice dripped with distain at the thought of doing anything fun. Jaxson felt another pang of regret for his mother.
Strike one.
Several more minutes of awkward silence went by before Jaxson tried again. "I saw a lot of changes happening down in Georgetown. Looks like a lot of new development just off campus."
Progress. His father didn't respond with impatience or anger. In fact, he didn't respond at all.
Strike two.
The uneasy silence as the servers cleared the soup dishes and slid plates of salad in front of the three occupants of the room started to piss Jaxson off. Communicating with the people who'd brought him into the world shouldn't be this hard.
Not for the first time, he thought about how lucky he was to even be alive because if there were ever two people who should have never had children, it was his parents. They sucked at it.
He speared a small tomato and popped it in his mouth, deciding on his next topic. He went for broke.
"The estate looks beautiful. Juan sure is doing a great job with the flowers. How is he doing anyway? He have any more grandchildren?"
The clatter of his mother's silverware against her salad plate broke the steely silence. Jaxson glanced her way to see the blood draining from her face. Her mask was gone—replaced by fear.
