Except for tonight, because Juliet Losers was too fucked up on Xanax and cider to remember to give her daughter grief for not following her biological destiny. Last time she told me it was my duty to breed because of how rich I was. Who was that money going to go to? Hilarious, because Ken’s brothers sucked up to him for the sole purpose of sending their youngest kids to apprentice under him one day. There were plenty of nieces and nephews to pick from. Or maybe they would pick a kid off the street and change his or her life.
Lana thought these amusing things while she received her ongoing massage and fielded inane questions from her sister’s husband. When Juliet made her appearance and sat at the head of the table next to her illustrious daughter, Lana decided that her niece was the smartest person in the family. Grandma definitely smelled like gross.
By the time dinner began, Ken had sat next to his wife and began telling tales from the crazy world of real estate. About half of them included his wife blowing up at some poor, hapless soul and busting his balls until he conceded to her demands.
Ken had an amazing way of making his wife sound like a total harpy, all while keeping a friendly smile on his face. Normally it didn’t bother Lana – especially if it meant her reputation preceded her, and nobody would bother her – but tonight it only served as a reminder that even her husband saw her this way at times. What man wouldn’t cheat on that?
She used to think that Ken wasn’t that kind of man. Who knew…
The unfortunate thing was that she had no one to confide in. Not in her family, anyway. Usually these nights ended with her confiding to her husband about her feelings regarding her parents and sister. Ken was her best friend. Ken was her sound board and the man who reassured her that she was beautiful, smart, witty, and a tiger in the sack. Who knew how that would go tonight.
In truth, Lana didn’t remember much about Christmas dinner. There was food. Kids whined. Brothers-in-law laughed and sisters huffed. Mothers popped Xanax. The in-laws insinuated that they wanted to go to Brazil for their upcoming anniversary, something that usually translated to a plea for money. Lana ignored it. If Ken wanted to give his money to his parents, so be it.
“Lana.”
She snapped off auto-pilot sometime after dinner, when her husband leaned in and pointed to a maid carrying platters of pie. “Huh?”
“Pumpkin or blackberry, dear?”
“Oh. Pumpkin, please.”
After dinner, Lana was obligated to spend time with her mother and sister in one of the studies. There she got to hear all about her brother-in-law’s legal troubles at work. Something else she was expected to pitch in funds to help with.
“Perhaps if you want to save money, your husband should stop harassing his help.”
Inid sniffed. “You know how men are. They chase tail. Be grateful you don’t have kids. Ken wouldn’t think twice about straying from you if he saw you as a mother.”
“Inid,” Juliet said sternly, the first thing she said in twenty minutes.
Lana pursed her lips. Her sister never stood a chance against her. “It’s not kids that would do it, sweetie. It’s the fact you haven’t had a personality since you popped out the first kid.”
“Lana!”
Maybe this was why Juliet Losers was on so much Xanax – raising these two assholes she called daughters. At least one is filthy rich and the other gave her grandchildren. That’s all that mattered to a woman like her.
Lana didn’t have a chance for peace until later that evening, when she excused herself to go to bed. The next day was Christmas, and although some in-laws would be scattering to see other family in the area, most of the brood would be at the Losers Estate to exchange presents. Lana wished she could remember what she got anyone…
“…She’s going to lose her mind when she sees it.” Ken’s voice, in the library with his younger brother Travis. The two were always friends growing up, and things hadn’t changed now. If Ken were to have a private conversation with anyone at a family gathering, it was him. “Chloe is already in love.”
Lana stopped in the hallway. Don’t listen, idiot. That’s what her common sense said. Her gut? It made her stand outside that door, one ear completely open.