Steven dreaded the holidays with his family. His brother-in-law behaved as though his Harvard degree put him above the rest. Christmas was a week away and Steven had not yet secured a plane ticket. Claire would surely cut his balls off if he failed to show up. She knew what buttons to push and how and when to push them. It was not until a. Dallas would not be welcoming to this northeasterner. Christmas would be all about cracked and too warm concrete and a whole lot of Texas fake charm.
He sent Claire a text to let her know his plans. She and Roger sitting across from him gloating following the reading, would be way too much to bear. He knew his independent and defiant nature was a disappointment. His father warned him that a career as an artist would be a difficult life; fighting poverty and harsh public criticism.
His father was a man of few words, always working and avoiding homelife. Now it was time to hear from his father from the grave; ultimately having to have his rejection spelled out in front of the two people he disliked most. There was no law that said he was obligated to be at the reading.
The voices in his head told him to grow up and face life head on โ it would be over soon enough. He walked around the back of the house where Claire and Roger were having a drink on the patio. Claire got up to put her cheek in his face for a kiss, Roger stayed seated.
They asked him about the trip south, but neither truly cared to listen to his response. After a few awkward words, they told him that his room was ready.
