“Forgive my sins, Mother,” I mock as she pinches my waist.
“What has gotten into you?” she whispers as the flash continues to spark.
Muttering under my breath while internally rolling my eyes, I reply, “Nothing.
Once the picture is taken by the professional photographer hired by the university, I can feel myself visibly relax.
“You look great, Syd,” Bentley says as he pulls me in for a side hug before we all disperse from the close vicinity we were just in.
“You too, Bent. Both of you. Glad to see you’ve avoided the college weight.”
“Well, with the practices we put in during the football season, it’s hard to gain too much weight,” Beckett adds. Both of my brothers played on the team for the university. To the dismay of my father, they weren’t scouted to the NFL, but he’s still proud of the way they represented the school and the Matthews name—can’t forget about that.
“I’m proud of all of my children,” my father boasts, coming over to all of us and hugging my brothers before planting a kiss on my temple. “My boys are now ready to take on the business world, and my daughter has established herself as a powerful and professional lawyer in our community. I couldn’t ask for more successful children.”
The tears in his eyes and the look of pride on his face right now—that’s one of the reasons I’ve always done as I’ve been asked because seeing my father beam at our family, even though there are moments when he forgets we’re individuals capable of making our own decisions—those are the moments that remind me to be grateful for the life he’s given us and the solid foundation of family my mother and he have bestowed to us.
Every family has its issues and faults, and lord knows ours in no exception. But there are a lot of children in this world that don’t have two loving parents, monetary freedom, and a support system, even when at times it feels more forced than not. I love my family, I do, which is why I battle so hard between wanting to make them happy and finally standing up for myself in all aspects of my life.
We leave the campus and drive about fifteen minutes away to a restaurant my father used to frequent upon his inheritance when he lived in College Station, Texas, before he moved to Dallas and met my mother. The Republic Steakhouse screams affluence and money as soon as you walk through the wrought iron doors and are greeted with the aroma of garlic and meat. The hostess greets my father by name and finds a table for us right away as soon as our family steps through the door. Apparently he still has some pull here, even though it’s been years since he’s been back.
The dark wooden walls with golden framed mirrors bounce the light coming from the chandeliers as our hostess leads us to our table. My father pulls out a chair next to him for my mother and then another on the other side of him for me. I smile as I take my seat and unwrap my silverware from the cream-colored cloth napkin, placing it gently in my lap.
I can’t remember the last time all five of us were together, I think, as my brothers take the other two seats across from us at the round table we’ve occupied. Wine and beer menus are passed around as we all decide on a beverage to celebrate the occasion with.
Once our drinks are delivered and our entrees have been order, my father proposes a toast.
“To Beckett and Bentley, two more Matthews men who are ready to offer something to society, as well as uphold the Matthews name. I am proud of you boys, and so is your mother and sister. I can’t wait to see what you both accomplish.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Beckett replies as we all clink our glasses together and take a sip of our respective drinks. The red wine hits my tongue and sends a rush to my head almost instantly. Good thing I’m not driving home because I already have a head change.
“So boys, any job offers yet?” My father reaches for a roll from the bread basket and then proceeds to pass it around the table.
“There’s a technology company starting up here with a few guys from our fraternity. The main focus is to develop software for apps in the healthcare industry. With my degree in web design and Bentley’s knowledge with marketing, we think it might be rewarding to be involved with a company from the ground up,” Beckett answers, but the look on my father’s face in anything but enthusiastic.
“Sounds risky.”
“Anything worthwhile is, Dad,” Bentley adds.
“Surely there are other options for you. I could always call up one of my contacts, get your feet in the door with an established corporation …” He continues to ramble on while I silently enjoy the fact that I’m not the only one whose decisions get dissected. Seems my brothers are on the receiving end of my father’s need for control as well.
“We haven’t agreed to anything solidly yet, Dad. But we appreciate the offer.” Beckett declares as our salads arrive and everyone digs in.
“So you’re planning on staying here in College Station then?” I ask after chewing my bite of lettuce completely.
“Yeah. Our friends are here and now we know the area so well that it would be hard to go back to Newberry. Besides, any company that we’d be able to work for would be in Dallas, which means we’d be commuting. Might as well stay in a bustling city instead of heading back to small town life. No offense, Sis,” Bentley teases.
“None taken. I think that decision makes sense.
