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The image of his yacht filled the screen.
“May I presentMy Dream. It’s a forty-eight foot yacht, my dream-come-true.”
Jaws sagged in awe. For a few seconds, silence filled the room, and then they all squealed and screamed, talking together.
“Fabulous… Fantastic… I love it… Can we come…”
Steve held up his hand to quiet them. “Yes, you can all visit. Let me give you a virtual tour.” He started the video he’d shown Lillian and described the interior of his new home. “I’ll be living on it and taking the dinghy to work.”
“Can I live and work with you, Dad, please?” Royce begged.
“Nope.” Had his son forgotten his career plans so soon? “You’re going back to college, remember? But you can spend all your vacations with me.”
“Dad, I don’t want to be too nosey,” Matt interrupted. “But this seems to be a large financial investment. Were you able to cover the costs with your savings?”
“I wish. No. I had to sell some stocks and borrow from the bank, using this house as collateral.”
Cybil jumped up from the couch, her body seething in indignation. “Ourbeautiful house?” she screeched. “Without consulting us ? How could you, Steve?”
Fed up with Cybil’s interference, Steve arched his eyebrows. “May I remind you that this is my house?” he stated, his jaw tight.
She raised her chin. “It’s Matt’s inheritance.”
Stephanie and Royce turned their gazes on her, their eyes wide in an “I beg your pardon?” look.
“Well… Royce’s and Stephanie’s, too, of course,” she amended.
“Begging your pardon, dear Cybil,” Steve said, his fury barely controlled. “I’m still alive and free to dispose of my assets as I see fit.”
Matt reached for his wife’s arm. “The fact that the house is collateral won’t affect our ability to live here. It’s just a loan. Dad will pay it off in no time.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Matt.” For a few seconds Steve hesitated, wishing he could spare them the disappointment he was about to inflict. Roaming his implacable gaze over his children’s anxious faces, he remembered them as young kids growing in a tight, loving family, raised by parents teaching them to be self-dependent. “There’s more.”
“What do you mean?” His son frowned while the others peered at him.
Steve exhaled. “I didn’t have enough cash to cover the expenses. Not only did I borrow against the house, I’ve also rented it. The new tenants arrive in ten days—June first. So, you can all forget about living in this house.”
“Really, Dad?” Matt snapped.
“Are you serious?” Stephanie asked.
“No way,” Cybil screamed.
The difficult part was over. He’d made his announcement, and wouldn’t budge from his position. Let them vent their outrage.
“This is the end of my presentation. Now you all know my plans.” He switched off the TV and surveyed his audience.
Wide-eyed, his grownup children stared, unable to digest his conclusion.
“How can you do this to us?” Cybil lamented, furious tears streaming down her cheeks. “Matt doesn’t have a job. You’re throwing us into the street.”
“Hardly,” he answered dryly. “Don’t be dramatic. Matt is a good surgeon. He’ll find a job soon. I bought you a house when you two got married. A year later you decided to sell it and move. You can buy another one anytime.”
“We don’t have the money now,” Cybil whined. “We needed it for other things.”
“Dad, can’t you cancel the lease? We’ll rent the house.” Obviously affected by his wife’s tears, Matt tried to negotiate.
“No. My decisions weren’t made on the spur of the moment. I spent months studying the market and planning my future, taking it one step at a time. It’s time you guys did the same.”
