regularly.
Cass was the first to graduate, and he did so with honors. While everyone was throwing their caps in the air, he was kissing his love. Before Lila graduated, she got an offer from the firm where she was interning and gladly accepted. She loved the work and the firm was chosen to test a computer software program designed to create 2D and maybe even 3D renderings of buildings. It was cutting edge and only a few firms even knew about such technology, much less had someone trained in its use.
Even though she and Cass worked long hours, they made time to be together or with a small group of friends. The tension in the Baxter household was thick as Julian seemed cooler to Joan than usual. He was also sleeping in the guest room downstairs, claiming it was hurting his knees going up and down the stairs all the time. Grayson returned after a few months a changed man. He slowly cleaned up his life thanks to the rehab facility out west. He was finally finding his way, and Joan attempted to reconnect with her eldest, seizing on the glimmer of an opportunity to push him to become a part of the family business. As the first born, she thought it should be his birthright, not just Cass’. Cass was not worried as he had already proven himself to Julian and others. But over the course of a year, he had gotten to know his brother again. Gray was on a different path and made it clear he had no interest in joining Baxter Chemicals. After some prodding from Cass, he decided to make an official announcement to the clan.
Grayson tapped his fork on his glass of apple juice. “May I have your attention, please?” he asked. The table was quietly focused on him. “It’s been a tough few months, but today I got some great news. Thanks to some begging, pleading and testing, I’ve finally been accepted into the University’s Dual Psychology program.”
Cass got up and hugged his big brother and Virgilia gave Grayson a kiss and a hug. Everyone celebrated the happy news, except Joan, who threw her napkin on the table.
“Congratulations, Son,” Julian said, beaming with pride.
“Thanks, Dad,” Grayson said. “I think I finally found my calling. Going through addiction gives me a certain perspective I can use. It’s going to mean a lot of long nights, but it’s what I want to do.”
Joan excused herself from the table and Grayson looked on. He was about to go after her, but Julian stopped him.
“Don’t, Gray. It’s your life and you don’t owe her any explanations or apologies.”
“I know, Dad, but I guess I thought she’d be happy for me.”
The conversation quickly turned to Quinn and her new part as Lady MacBeth. She was becoming quite the ingénue. Julian looked at the table in quiet awe. He couldn’t ever remember the last time they had sat down and ate as a family. For that, he took the lion’s share of the blame. He had been so focused on Baxter Chemicals, he had let his family slip away and let the love just disappear in the house. He looked at his children and vowed to make things right somehow.
With each passing day, Joan grew more bitter. She didn’t bother to hide her contempt for Virgilia, or her disappointment in Grayson. Julian let his wife know that her behavior was upsetting the family and for a while she was quiet, because despite her braggadocio, she was still afraid of Julian. She had always been able to keep him in the dark about a few things, but she was beginning to wonder what else he knew about. Julian had always been powerful and that was one of the reasons she staked her claim years ago, but now she couldn’t rein him in or find a way to beat him.
With all of the frustration and uncertainty she now faced, Joan blamed one person: Cass. He was the heir-apparent who could do no wrong. The longer she thought about it, the more she realized that Cass was not only Julian’s heart, but also his Achilles heel.
***
It was the day of their Caribbean cruise vacation. Cass and Lila had
Cass was the first to graduate, and he did so with honors. While everyone was throwing their caps in the air, he was kissing his love. Before Lila graduated, she got an offer from the firm where she was interning and gladly accepted. She loved the work and the firm was chosen to test a computer software program designed to create 2D and maybe even 3D renderings of buildings. It was cutting edge and only a few firms even knew about such technology, much less had someone trained in its use.
Even though she and Cass worked long hours, they made time to be together or with a small group of friends. The tension in the Baxter household was thick as Julian seemed cooler to Joan than usual. He was also sleeping in the guest room downstairs, claiming it was hurting his knees going up and down the stairs all the time. Grayson returned after a few months a changed man. He slowly cleaned up his life thanks to the rehab facility out west. He was finally finding his way, and Joan attempted to reconnect with her eldest, seizing on the glimmer of an opportunity to push him to become a part of the family business. As the first born, she thought it should be his birthright, not just Cass’. Cass was not worried as he had already proven himself to Julian and others. But over the course of a year, he had gotten to know his brother again. Gray was on a different path and made it clear he had no interest in joining Baxter Chemicals. After some prodding from Cass, he decided to make an official announcement to the clan.
Grayson tapped his fork on his glass of apple juice. “May I have your attention, please?” he asked. The table was quietly focused on him. “It’s been a tough few months, but today I got some great news. Thanks to some begging, pleading and testing, I’ve finally been accepted into the University’s Dual Psychology program.”
Cass got up and hugged his big brother and Virgilia gave Grayson a kiss and a hug. Everyone celebrated the happy news, except Joan, who threw her napkin on the table.
“Congratulations, Son,” Julian said, beaming with pride.
“Thanks, Dad,” Grayson said. “I think I finally found my calling. Going through addiction gives me a certain perspective I can use. It’s going to mean a lot of long nights, but it’s what I want to do.”
Joan excused herself from the table and Grayson looked on. He was about to go after her, but Julian stopped him.
“Don’t, Gray. It’s your life and you don’t owe her any explanations or apologies.”
“I know, Dad, but I guess I thought she’d be happy for me.”
The conversation quickly turned to Quinn and her new part as Lady MacBeth. She was becoming quite the ingénue. Julian looked at the table in quiet awe. He couldn’t ever remember the last time they had sat down and ate as a family. For that, he took the lion’s share of the blame. He had been so focused on Baxter Chemicals, he had let his family slip away and let the love just disappear in the house. He looked at his children and vowed to make things right somehow.
With each passing day, Joan grew more bitter. She didn’t bother to hide her contempt for Virgilia, or her disappointment in Grayson. Julian let his wife know that her behavior was upsetting the family and for a while she was quiet, because despite her braggadocio, she was still afraid of Julian. She had always been able to keep him in the dark about a few things, but she was beginning to wonder what else he knew about. Julian had always been powerful and that was one of the reasons she staked her claim years ago, but now she couldn’t rein him in or find a way to beat him.
With all of the frustration and uncertainty she now faced, Joan blamed one person: Cass. He was the heir-apparent who could do no wrong. The longer she thought about it, the more she realized that Cass was not only Julian’s heart, but also his Achilles heel.
***
It was the day of their Caribbean cruise vacation. Cass and Lila had
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