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He swung his gaze towards his father. It appeared all of the blood from his mother had rushed into his father's face. Angry didn't even begin to describe the look on the senator.
"We do not mention that name in this house."
Jaxson was truly bewildered. Juan, and his family, was the closest thing he'd had to an extended family growing up. Jaxson had played with Juan's kids and even helped with the gardening until his father had found out and forbid him to help again stating it was beneath him.
"I don't understand. Did Juan do something wrong?"
His father put down the fork he'd been holding, placed his elbows on the armrests of the formal dining chair and steepled his fingers as he pinned his son with a dominant glare.
"He falsified his documents when he applied to work for me. He was not a legal citizen and should not have been employed. His lying has given my opponents fodder to attack me with."
"What the hell are you talking about? We've always known he came over from Mexico. He's been sending money back to his mother and sister forever."
"Just because I knew he was of Mexican descent does not mean I knew he wasn't a legal resident."
He saw the quiver of his mother's lips as she whispered a warning to let the subject drop. Her head moved slightly from side to side.
Well fuck that.
"What a crock of bullshit. You knew all along. You paid him cash under the table for years because it saved you a few bucks. Don't blame that on Juan."
If there were a thermometer in the room, it would show the temperature falling like a rock as the two men stared at each other. There was a time in his life Jaxson would have backed down, afraid of his father. That time had past.
His father covered his tracks. "Well, that's not how I remember it. And it's not how your mother remembers it either. In fact, she's sworn under oath so I'd be very careful with your accusations. I'd sure hate to see your mother in legal trouble because you shot your mouth off to the wrong person with lies."
"So what? You just threw Juan and his family to the wolves? Blaming him?"
"Damn right I did. He did something illegal. I had him deported."
Jaxson was on his feet. "You did what?"
"Sit down. You're acting like a brash child."
"No, father. I'm acting like a person who cares about someone who was nice to me as a kid. Like a person who isn't afraid to call bullshit when he sees it."
"Juan and his family made plenty of money with me over the years. If he invested wisely, he's going to be fine."
"And if he didn't? He spent twenty years working for you and this is how you repay him? You make me sick."
"You disappoint me yet again, Jaxson. You are still the idealist, trying to see the world through rose-colored glasses. Surely you can see that when you reach my level of power, difficult decisions must be made. You need to toughen up, or you'll continue to get run over in life."
"Toughen up? Is that all you have to say about throwing the closest thing I'll ever have to an uncle or family friend to the wolves? Toughen up?"
"I see you are still using your Bachelor of Arts degree with your melodramatic outbursts."
Jaxson pushed his chair back and started for the door. He never should have come here. His father was only getting worse with time. Power was corrupting him.
He was almost to the door when his father called out to him. "We had a deal. You promised. I've sunk a lot of money into advertising your presence tomorrow night when I make my official announcement. I wouldn't back out on your promise if I were you."
Jaxson swung back to face off with the elder man who sat at the head of the table, cool as the cucumber he had just put into his mouth.
The silence dragged on until Jaxson pressed him. "Tell me, Dad... are you still voting against anything that might help low and middle income families?"
"If you are asking if I still oppose giving handouts out to people who refuse to carry their weight in society, the answer is yes.”
“I see. Bet your still enjoying excellent health care while millions of Americans can’t even afford to buy vital medication or get treatment for their loved ones.”
“Oh please. Cry me a river why don’t you?”
