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“Yeah, as you can tell, Kat hasn’t missed too many cheese courses herself,” Jackson said with a smug smile.
“Fuck off, Jackson.”
“Children,” Rose said, her voice remaining calm somehow.
“I know, I know Mom, language,” Kat muttered. “But seriously, I can’t believe swearing is considered worse than fat shaming someone.”
“Neither are okay, and both of you should know better at your age,” Rose replied.
“It was just a joke,” Jackson said while rolling his eyes. His words were a bit slurred as he reached for even more wine.
“Jokes aren’t an excuse to be an asshole,” I said, speaking up about something that had bugged me ever since we were children. “I mean, you always claim you’re just joking, and maybe you think you are, but your jokes aren’t funny. They’re just mean.”
I realized I had said “asshole” and waited for Rose to come down on me, but she actually smiled. “Well said, Harper. I couldn’t agree more.”
“Why does she get away with swearing when the rest of us get treated like children?” Kat asked.
“Because she’s a guest, Katherine. And unlike the two of you, she’s not swearing simply to be foul or insulting, she’s making a point. One with which I agree.”
“Mom always did like you better than me,” Kat said with a wink, seeming to take it all in jest rather than being insulted.
Gerard along with a few other staff members came in and cleaned the table off, replacing our dinner plates with smaller ones and a variety of different kinds of cheese.
“This cheese right here is called the Prince of Gruyeres, and that is an absolute understatement,” Jackson said, pointing to one of the cheeses with a pockmarked yellow rind. This one here is made with raw milk and has a hint of fruity flavor. It’s called Beaufort.”
Kat rolled her eyes and whispered to me, “Jackson likes to act like he’s an expert on cheese and wine or some shit. Just ignore him.”
I had to admit though, as pretentious as he may have sounded, I did find the introduction and explanation of the cheese to be rather fascinating.
“I personally prefer the Tomme de Savoie,” Nathan said, pointing to another of the cheeses.
“Not a bad choice, brother,” Jackson said. “Both have their place, even if I find the Tomme a little less exciting than the Beaufort.”
“Well good thing I can try both,” I said, even though my stomach was full.
“And finally, we have le Tamie,” Jackson said, pointing to a cheese with a beautiful gold color. “This is a very special cheese as it’s made by the monks in the abbey of Tamie.” He didn’t say much about it, no raving review or discussions about the flavor.
“Well I guess I will try a little of each then.”
“Smart woman,” Kat said from beside me. “You won’t be disappointed.”
Each cheese was unique and flavorful. I only had a small piece of each one since I was already feeling like I might burst, but each bite was a little piece of heaven.
“So, what’s the verdict?” Jackson asked. “Which one is your favorite?”
I had to stop and think about which cheese was which. I picked up le Tamie. “This one, I think. It was mild, but still a little nutty.”
“Ahh, yes, I can see why you like it. With hints of fresh cream, it is a good choice.” Jackson’s voice had shifted, something was off.
“It’s my favorite too,” Aiden spoke up, speaking about the cheese for the first time. “I think that the fact that you can only buy it from a local abbey just adds to the appeal.”
“I think that might be it for me too, knowing I may never be able to haveit again.”
“Well, Harper, dear. You are welcome to join us on our family trips and eat as much cheese as you like,” Rose said with a friendly smile.
I noticed Jackson was looking down. He finished his glass of wine then glanced over at the end of the table, the empty end.
Kat finally broke the silence. “That was our dad’s favorite cheese, too.”
