Just For You by Leen Elle Page A

Sylvia's heart nearly jumped out of her chest for Cameron's question. He was actually making an effort to be sociable, and that was just what she'd hoped from his visit. The change in him was almost like someone turned on a light switch.
    "It's next Saturday, at five."
    "I don't think I have work that day," Cameron pushed hair from his eyes. "Maybe I can make it down in time."
    "They'd love that."
    Dinner conversation continued until the topics of school, work, and politics were out of the way. Next on the list?
    Cameron was in the middle of swallowing a spoonful of soup when his mother was out with it.
    "So, Imogen. Is my son a good lover?" She gestured with her finger toward Cameron.
    Cameron groaned, dropping his spoon into his soup bowl. There was a banging as he set his elbow on the table and hid his face in his open palm. "Oh, God."
    Every single date he'd ever had came rushing back to him, like some time-continuum from hell. He was afraid it would come to this, but somehow, even for all his twenty six years of experience of being his mother's son, didn't see it coming. He didn't know why he would have thought this time would have been any different, any more special.
    Imogen's cheeks reddened and she licked her lips. The others went on eating just as easily as if Sylvia had brought up the weather.
    "Mom." It was the only word Cameron could get out at the moment.
    "What? You act as if sex isn't a natural part of life."
    "That doesn't mean it needs to be brought up at the dinner table."
    George was laughing quietly to himself as he sipped his wine.
    "I'm sorry," Sylvia turned toward Imogen. "You're not offended, are you? I'm not being too forward?"
    Imogen shook her head.
    "Jesus, you talk about this all day and now you have to bring it up with a guest in your house. It's not normal to discuss this all day, every day." He turned toward his father. "Don't you get sick of hearing about this? Work stays at the office for a reason."
    George made a face that said he rather didn't mind.
    "Okay, wrong person to ask." Cameron's entire body trembled with disgust.
    "It's normal to me," Sylvia countered. "Honestly, what is the big deal? We're all adults here. There's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm not stupid or naïve enough to think that you haven't had any sort of relations by now. You should be lucky to have a mom who's so understanding."
    "Mom!" Cameron widened his eyes. "Change the subject. Now."
    Sylvia was silently waiting for a reply from Imogen.
    "No, ma'am." She pushed around a potato in her broth. "Cameron and I… we're not dating."
    "I know. Who said you had to be dating to enjoy each other?"
    Imogen held her tongue. She almost let it up that she'd suggested the subject to Cameron once before, not seriously, of course. But it was better left unsaid.
    "For the love of Christ. We are not sleeping together. Can we please, for my own mental sanity, discuss something else that does not in any way include sex, relationships, or my own life."
    Sylvia held up her hands. "Fine, we will talk about something else. Alex, why don't you tell Cameron about your art show?"
    Alex licked his lips nervously and looked around at the six pairs of eyes now on him. Imogen looked away, feeling sorry for the kid. She'd barely just met him but there was something in him that she very much liked.
    "I won a prize." His voice was meek.
    "You did? That's great."
    Imogen smiled at Cameron, whose interest was undivided as he looked at his younger brother.
    "Second place. I got a blue ribbon and a thousand dollar scholarship to the art school."
    "Alex," Bobby smiled. "Congratulations. I'm sorry we missed the show."
    "Me, too." Cameron chimed in. He meant it. That guilt his mother was telling him he should be feeling was hitting him all at once. "Can I see the piece after dinner?"
    "Sure," Alex's smile lit up his entire face. "Yeah, it's in my bedroom."
    "Perfect," Cameron said, just as the soup bowls were being cleared away. The end of dinner couldn't