Page 77 of Not So Very Sensible

“I’d rather spend my time with someone who’s intelligent and compassionate, who believes the same things I do.”

His sister sniffed. “Who is as delusional as you, you mean.”

“I’m sorry you feel like you need to sneer at me.”

A hint of colour washed her cheeks. Huh. It took a lot for his sister to feel embarrassed.

His father coughed. “Son, to be perfectly frank, I don’t care whether you can have an intelligent conversation with your wife or not. But I do care whether she would fit into our family.”

Francine nodded. “Exactly. Which is why Lucinda would be perfect. She mightn’t have too many original thoughts floating around in her head, but she’s got enough sense to know how to play the game.”

“The political game, you mean?”

“Correct.” His father pushed away his half-eaten fried eggs, now slowly congealing on the plate. No doubt he would leave it there and expect somebody else to clean up after him. That’s what he’d done all his life. “Ethan, if you say no to Lucinda, then I can pretty much guarantee you are going to be short-changing your career, and you’ll never make partner.”

Ethan blinked. “Is that a threat?”

“A threat? Come on, Son. You know me.”

“Which is why I’m asking if that’s a threat.”

“Why do you even care?” Rob asked, an arm sprawled across the back of a wooden kitchen chair. “Haven’t you always said you want to be some kind of youth pastor?”

“I would prefer to retain my own options about my career and not have it short-changed because I’m being punished. I don’t like people blackmailing or manipulating me.”

“And I don’t like people disrespecting the family legacy I’ve built up over decades,” Dad snapped.

The family legacy of corruption and bribe-taking. Why did people vote for him? Oh, because they did not know that. Well, two could play at this game. The meek might inherit the earth, but they weren’t doormats. They still spoke the truth.

He eyed his father. “If you do something that affects my career, then I might find myself remembering some things I might need to speak to the press about.” Or the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Son. You might find some things you care about get damaged.”

He felt shaken. Was his dad really threatening him? “Do you really not love me?”

The truth smacked him in the eyes. His dad had always had narcissistic qualities. He loved himself more than caring about anyone else. Ethan wasn’t his son, just a commodity. Someone to be exploited for his advantage. Why had it taken Ethan so long to see this?

He stood. “I’ve had enough of this.”

“What? What are you doing?”

He glanced at Francine. “You’ve used me, and you created this mess in the first place, so you’re going to be the one who’s going to have to pick up the pieces. I’m done.”

“Look, I know it must seem like things are hard, but if you have to break up with Lucinda, then just do it privately. Don’t make any announcement.”

“Keep playing the game, you mean? So you’re not embarrassed?”

“Think about Christine,” Francine pleaded.

“She’s going to die anyway, so why should I make a promise that should last forever to keep a dying woman happy?” he said brutally.

“But Ethan—”

“No.”

His chair toppled to the floor as he strode away, his family’s voices chasing him down the hall. He didn’t want to face them again, so he picked up his bag from the guest room where he’d stayed and kept walking to the back door.

There he found Wayne, smoking, because Francine didn’t let him do it in the house.