Inheritance

Chapter 16

When nightfall came the following day, I returned to the deck for Thanksgiving dinner. For most of the morning and afternoon, the yacht had docked at a reclusive coastal city in Spain, granting everyone time to explore the beautiful isle. After venturing around some of the tourist sights with my uncle and Frank, I was now more than eager to return to the boat and enjoy the edible delicacies so famously associated with the holiday season. 

With a view not too far from the neighboring township lights, we were called to the lavishly set dining area. The outside decor had been beautifully arranged by the boat staff, allowing us to bask in the beauty of the overtly fancy silverware and ornaments. For the entire day, I'd done my best to ignore the one man I'd been avoiding since our encounter yesterday afternoon. 

However, it didn't help that I could feel his suffocating gaze fixed on me while I found a seat across the table. 

On cue, my uncle was the first to speak. 

"Alright, people. I'm so glad that each and every one of you is here. Obviously, some folks couldn't make it, but that's fine. Tonight is our last day in this beautiful place. So let's make the little time we have left nothing short of pleasant, as that's what my late wife would have wanted." My uncle broke out into a cough, as his personal assistant, Monica, worriedly grabbed a handkerchief for him.

"Sorry guys, he must of ate something earlier that was a little unsettling." Monica dismissed, then proceeded to rub his back in a soothing motion. 

My uncle absolutely adored the ground Monica walked on and I often wondered about the nature of their relationship. It was a bit unconventional that she lived with him and did practically anything he asked. Coupled with the fact that she was a very attractive middle-aged woman, it wouldn't be too out of the ordinary to consider the possibility of their relationship one day evolving from strictly professional to romantic. That is, if it hadn't already.

"I'm fine. Just an old man dealing with the side effects of getting old. That's all it is." He laughed, but everyone at the table remained silent. 

"Don't say that dad, you're only in your mid-sixties. Be careful what you speak into existence. The tongue is a powerful tool, you know." Frank chastised, sounding a little more wise than I had given him credit for.

When the food finally came around, I heard my stomach internally growl in anticipation. I hadn't realized how hungry I'd been, since I hadn't eaten all day to ensure I had a large enough appetite to appreciatively relish in the cultured tastes of smoked turkey and ham, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, bread rolls, and any and everything else being served.

After leading a prayer of thanks, my uncle gestured for us to begin serving ourselves. Somehow, I was able to fit a small amount of everything on my now stuffed plate. One bite from the sultry and sweet jumbulaya caused me to lose all sense of time and reality. Food this delicious should have been illegal. I continued to overload my mouth with large spoons of the contents carefully aligned on my plate, too consumed by eating to make time for conversation.

"So, Sasha. Tell us about how you and Chase are doing. Have you somehow managed to keep him around?" Patricia announced, after everyone was already midway through their meals. Kendall's head perked up, almost unnoticeably, but I had already been staring in his direction.

"His name is Caleb actually, but we are doing great." My eyes flickered to Kendall's, who sported a clear look of disinterest. Wanting to test the authenticity of his indifference, I decided to overindulge the nature of where Caleb and I's relationship currently stood.

"Actually, he's already talking about an engagement. I have to keep telling him to slow down. We literally just met, but who knows? One of these days I might be crazy enough to say yes." I finished, taking a sip from my glass of red wine.