Everyone at the table knew there was something wrong, but no one said anything about it. Dad tried to break the ice a few times, but when no one respo...nded he stopped trying. It was the first awkward breakfast since the day I first kissed her. After a long quiet breakfast we all cleaned up and I retreated to my room.I sat back and listened to some music for a while, and then I heard a knock on my door. Before I could react mom slipped in and closed the door behind her. She turned off my stereo. ”I shook my head. “It’s a sore point from time to time as to who pays for what. As you know, I’m extremely well off and I try to pay for everything about our family and I want to shower the girls and guys with presents – everything they buy I want to come from me. It doesn’t work out that way. They’re constantly finding ways to pay for stuff out of their own funds. They all work and have good incomes, but I just wish they’d save what they make for real contingencies. I am learning to ‘save. Jake picked up the video call on the first notification.Jake and Mindy knew everyone but Jason and Lisa so the introductions were quick. We had Jason, Lisa, Dad and Mom sitting on the same couch. Jenny and I sat on the floor on front them with Marcy, Lorrie, Vicky and Ching Lee tight around us with our arms holding each other."Moms, Dads," I was speaking to both sets of parents."You know that all of us are more than friends and business partners. We are family and we love each other more than. That didnt matter though really. All Rachel and Byron wanted was time alone together for smoking dope and making love. Thats what you do when youre 18. On this particular afternoon the Sun shone gloriously through the dusty windows making everything seem all hazy and golden/ kind of like some soft-focus French film. Rachel finished undressing – allowing her stuff to drop onto the carpet – and cheerfully clambered up onto the bed. *Whats that youre hiding* she purred/ a comic kittenish voice.