he’s ready.” Victor helped his mother as we all walked into the house for dinner.
Everyone gathered in the dining room set in white and pink with roses to match. The table was set with beautiful china and rose pink wine glasses. This was elegance at its finest. I had hoped it wouldn’t be so formal, but I should have guessed it would be.
“Victor, where is Steven,” Sofia asked?
“I think he was napping. Have Marbella check the living area.”
“Max, where is your brother?” Susan asked.
“He’s upstairs in Daddy’s old room playing with his model planes.”
“Go up and tell him we are getting ready for dinner.”
“Ok, Mother, I’ll be right back.”
Max appeared with his brother. “This is Steven, Victor’s other son.” He was dark headed like his mother and with the same striking looks as his father.
“Steven, I’ve told you not to play with my planes. They are fragile.”
“Yes.”
“Victor, you’ve had them forever, let him enjoy them.”
“Ashton, they are not toys, they are antiques and worth a lot of money.”
“You put a price on everything. They’re just toys. You remind me so much of Father.”
“He knew the meaning of a dollar, unlike you, Ashton.”
“Victor, you and your brother do this every time we get together. Let’s just have dinner without it, just once, please. Let’s leave your father in California for tonight anyway.”
“Mother, you’re always taking Ashton’s side on everything.”
“Victor, you’re such a baby. Why don’t you leave something for Max to do?”
“That’s enough from you, Ashton. Marbella, would you lead us in prayer?”
“Of course, Sofia,” and we all bowed our heads.
The food was delicious, but no one said much during dinner. “Candice, I hear you are the head of marketing now. Congratulations.”
“Yes, Susan, I was promoted before we left so I haven’t had time for it all to soak in. What do you do, Susan?”
“I own a real-estate Company in Seattle. Things could be better, but we’re doing ok. Victor and I are thinking of relocating to Japan. He’s had an offer that we are seriously considering.”
“This is the first I’ve heard this,” Sofia said in surprise. “I will never get to see my grandchildren.”
“Mother, I was going to tell you about it, but since I haven’t accepted the offer, it would be a little premature.”
“Where is Winston, Mother?” Victor changed the subject.
“He’s in London on business.”
“He’s always away on business.”
“What are you implying, Victor? That he’s not where he says he is?”
“No, Mother, I’m just asking. He’s always out of the country for one thing or the other.”
“He is a businessman after all.”
“Grandmother, can we leave the table? I’m done eating.”
“Yes, Max, make sure you wash your hands.”
“Me too,” Ashton said, “I’m finished and this conversation is getting a bit much for me. Candice and I are going for a walk on the beach if anyone wonders where we are later.”
I was glad this dinner was over. If it hadn’t been cut short somebody would have said too much. The rest of the family went to different parts of the house for one reason or the other.
~~~
Ashton and I walked along the pier, down to the beach. “I’m sorry for all the drama. My brother and I are close, but competitive.”
“I understand sibling rivalry. I have two sisters after all.”
“There is something more between Victor and me, but I just can’t put my finger on it. My father and Victor are closer than my father and I are.”
“That happens in families sometimes. Me and my father are close as well.”
“Candice, I don’t want any secrets between us. If there is anything you want to know about me, just ask.”
This seemed like the best opportunity to ask about the modeling rumor. “Ashton, there is one thing, I didn’t know you modeled.”
He laughed, “Seriously? Who told you that?”
“I just heard it through the
Everyone gathered in the dining room set in white and pink with roses to match. The table was set with beautiful china and rose pink wine glasses. This was elegance at its finest. I had hoped it wouldn’t be so formal, but I should have guessed it would be.
“Victor, where is Steven,” Sofia asked?
“I think he was napping. Have Marbella check the living area.”
“Max, where is your brother?” Susan asked.
“He’s upstairs in Daddy’s old room playing with his model planes.”
“Go up and tell him we are getting ready for dinner.”
“Ok, Mother, I’ll be right back.”
Max appeared with his brother. “This is Steven, Victor’s other son.” He was dark headed like his mother and with the same striking looks as his father.
“Steven, I’ve told you not to play with my planes. They are fragile.”
“Yes.”
“Victor, you’ve had them forever, let him enjoy them.”
“Ashton, they are not toys, they are antiques and worth a lot of money.”
“You put a price on everything. They’re just toys. You remind me so much of Father.”
“He knew the meaning of a dollar, unlike you, Ashton.”
“Victor, you and your brother do this every time we get together. Let’s just have dinner without it, just once, please. Let’s leave your father in California for tonight anyway.”
“Mother, you’re always taking Ashton’s side on everything.”
“Victor, you’re such a baby. Why don’t you leave something for Max to do?”
“That’s enough from you, Ashton. Marbella, would you lead us in prayer?”
“Of course, Sofia,” and we all bowed our heads.
The food was delicious, but no one said much during dinner. “Candice, I hear you are the head of marketing now. Congratulations.”
“Yes, Susan, I was promoted before we left so I haven’t had time for it all to soak in. What do you do, Susan?”
“I own a real-estate Company in Seattle. Things could be better, but we’re doing ok. Victor and I are thinking of relocating to Japan. He’s had an offer that we are seriously considering.”
“This is the first I’ve heard this,” Sofia said in surprise. “I will never get to see my grandchildren.”
“Mother, I was going to tell you about it, but since I haven’t accepted the offer, it would be a little premature.”
“Where is Winston, Mother?” Victor changed the subject.
“He’s in London on business.”
“He’s always away on business.”
“What are you implying, Victor? That he’s not where he says he is?”
“No, Mother, I’m just asking. He’s always out of the country for one thing or the other.”
“He is a businessman after all.”
“Grandmother, can we leave the table? I’m done eating.”
“Yes, Max, make sure you wash your hands.”
“Me too,” Ashton said, “I’m finished and this conversation is getting a bit much for me. Candice and I are going for a walk on the beach if anyone wonders where we are later.”
I was glad this dinner was over. If it hadn’t been cut short somebody would have said too much. The rest of the family went to different parts of the house for one reason or the other.
~~~
Ashton and I walked along the pier, down to the beach. “I’m sorry for all the drama. My brother and I are close, but competitive.”
“I understand sibling rivalry. I have two sisters after all.”
“There is something more between Victor and me, but I just can’t put my finger on it. My father and Victor are closer than my father and I are.”
“That happens in families sometimes. Me and my father are close as well.”
“Candice, I don’t want any secrets between us. If there is anything you want to know about me, just ask.”
This seemed like the best opportunity to ask about the modeling rumor. “Ashton, there is one thing, I didn’t know you modeled.”
He laughed, “Seriously? Who told you that?”
“I just heard it through the
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