Coming Home for Christmas

by Max Hudson

  Jonathan could understand why. But he knew it wasn’t something they could hide forever. Emily was in a quandary, and he wanted to keep her safe. Be her big brother, the one she could vent to about anything and everything. The same as when they were kids.

  This was going to be interesting.

  Christmas Eve passed by quietly enough. The tension was in the air, and Jonathan did his best to ignore it, focusing on Emily and Megan. Megan was delighted to see them, but she was very subdued. Jonathan eventually got out of her what was wrong: Miles had taken Megan’s car after believing she had lied to them about where she was on her birthday. He was refusing to return the car to a liar, and Megan had got fed up with telling him he was wrong.

  That wasn’t right. Jonathan had always wondered if Miles had something wrong with him, but it was like he could get his father to go to the doctor to find out. He was far too proud for that.

  Things were a little tense when everyone went to bed, and the tension was forgotten for a little while as they opened their presents and enjoyed a quiet morning. Even Miles was smiling and sitting in his usual chair, his box of gin and beer on the floor and several books on American history in his lap. No complaints from him.

  Certainly, no complaints with the Christmas dinner. Lynn Rodney was certainly a very good cook. Jonathan and his siblings dug into the turkey and the various side dishes spread across the table. For the first time in a long time, they seemed like a happy family as they chatted away, the tension easing just a little.

  But it was like that every year. Jonathan could set a watch by it. The present opening was usually a good affair. Lynn made a delicious meal. And it was afterwards that things went downhill when their guard was lowered. Miles liked to pounce at opportune moments. Especially if he had been drinking.

  Jonathan wondered why they brought him alcohol as gifts every year when it made him unbearable. But it was what Miles wanted. You didn’t argue with him when it came to what he wanted as a Christmas gift.

  “Jonathan?”

  Jonathan started. Then he remembered. They had finished dinner and were now sitting around the living room with one of the many Hallmark Christmas movies on the TV. Lynn was sitting in the corner of the room doing some crochet while Miles drank in his chair. Now he was glaring at Megan, who was sitting beside Chris on the floor texting on her cell phone. Jonathan could sense something was about to happen now.

  He turned to his sister, who was sitting beside him on the couch. Emily was looking at him oddly.

  “Sorry, sis.” Jonathan yawned, trying to hide it behind his hand. “Mind was wandering.”

  “You’re not at work now.” Emily prodded him in the side. “Make the most of your downtime.”

  “Have you forgotten where we are?”

  Emily grimaced.

  “I suppose.” She sighed and absently rubbed her belly. “Even with all her faults, mom’s an excellent cook.”

  “I won’t argue with that.”

  Jonathan’s stomach was very full. He did enjoy his food, which he had been neglecting lately. Late November into December was always the worst time at the office due to everyone suddenly realizing things needed to be done before Christmas or they would get in trouble. He couldn’t remember the last time he ate properly. Lynn was certainly good at keeping them fed. That was one plus next to her name.

  Even though it didn’t excuse her from everything else. Jonathan hated being awful about his mother, but whenever he started to soften toward her, Lynn came up with something or supported her husband in something ridiculous, which resulted in Jonathan backing away again.

  “At least everyone seems to be a bit more relaxed right now.” Emily said quietly, although she was frowning in Miles’ direction. “But I can see Dad is stewing. He doesn’t look very happy.”

  “I’ve seen that, too.” Jonathan sighed. “He’s just waiting for the right moment to call Megan out about her birthday and embarrass her. You know he likes to do that.”

  “What did Megan do now?”

  “Hasn’t Megan told you?”

  “She said Dad had confiscated her car over something stupid, but she didn’t say what.” Emily looked up at him. “Did she tell you?”

  “I got it out of her a short while ago.”

  Jonathan was still rolling his eyes over his father’s actions. It wasn’t anything new, but it was frustrating to see Miles Rodney hadn’t changed over twenty years.

  “Megan was at her boyfriend Darren’s. She was going to a friend’s house for a sleepover. That’s what she wanted to do for her birthday. She told Mom and Dad where she was, but you know what Dad’s like. They kept calling her every five minutes for close to two hours.”

  “Every five minutes?” Emily eyes widened. “They’re slowing down. It was two minutes when we were that age.”

  “I know.” Jonathan shook his head. “Well, Megan stopped returning their calls because it was getting ridiculous and ruining her day. She never lied to them about where she was. Mom and Dad took to roaming the streets looking for her. They found her car and took it away, which meant that Megan had no transport. She still carried on the sleepover with her friends, but Megan had about fifty missed calls from her parents and a huge telling off about lying to them when she went home.”

  Jonathan had been there himself. It was a rarity that they were let out of the house to do anything that wasn’t chores or homework. Megan had somehow managed to get a boyfriend, one that her parents had met. Darren was a perfectly nice lad and Miles hated him. Probably because he wasn’t from a family with money. If they didn’t have wealth, they weren’t worth knowing; his parents were huge snobs. Even when they said their children could leave the house, they needed to know their exact movements.

  Jonathan was glad cell phones could block numbers.

  “Nice to know they haven’t mellowed out.” Emily grunted. “I remember when they did that to me.”

  “And me.”

  Although Jonathan was surprised his parents didn’t click to what he was up to. Instead of sneaking away to have sex with girls, Jonathan was sneaking away to explore his sexuality with guys. They assumed sex, just the wrong gender.

  “The lectures we used to get about messing around and not willingly giving our virginity to the first person who calls us a nice name.” Emily shook her head. “As if you can tell teenagers with hormones going through the roof that you shouldn’t be fucking around.”

  “Well, that’s all parents, I think. They’re always in denial that their children are growing up.” Jonathan stretched his legs. “You want a drink?”

  “Please.”

  Kissing his sister’s head, Jonathan stood, heading toward the kitchen. He didn’t look at Miles as he went, although he was aware of Miles watching him. His father liked to make people nervous by staring at them. It didn’t work on Jonathan anymore. At least, normally it didn’t.

  As he filled up a glass with water, Jonathan thought about his parents. They had been loving, sweet people in the beginning. He vaguely remembered times when they were happy. Then again, maybe he had been too young to notice it properly. It wasn’t until he was in first grade that he realized that something was a little off. Like his mother sitting in on his lessons and attempting to do his work. Jonathan had wanted to do it himself, but his mother swatted his hands away and took notes. She had eventually been asked to leave, which had resulted in Miles coming down and shouting at everyone. It was a wonder Jonathan and Emily hadn’t been expelled for their actions.

  If only they were normal people. Jonathan wanted a normal family, not one where the parents had to exert their authority over everything, under the belief they were always right. He wanted to talk to them about things, tell them his secrets and ask for advice. He wanted to relax and be himself.

  That wasn’t going to happen. His parents were very conservative. Homosexuality was very much frowned upon. Which was why Jonathan had never said anything about being gay. It was hard enough keeping it quiet at work -
the higher-uppers knew, but Jonathan didn’t broadcast, not with several of his colleagues’ homophobic attitudes - and Jonathan wanted to be himself when he was on leave. That wasn’t going to happen with his mother and father. His siblings didn’t care, but Jonathan knew the tension wouldn’t leave until he had parental approval.

  That would not happen anytime soon. He was sure of it.

  Then Jonathan heard his father’s voice coming from the living room as he crossed the kitchen.

  “Who are you texting, Megan? I thought we said no cell phones today. Family times.”

  Megan groaned.

  “Dad, everyone else has their cell phones out. Why are you telling me and not them?”

  Jonathan paused in the doorway. The talking had subsided a little, everyone watching Miles, who sat forward with a sharp glare at Megan. Megan sat up with a scowl. Sitting beside her, Chris touched her arm and gently shook his head. But Megan pulled her arm away.

  Out of all seven of them, Megan was the one with the shortest temper. Which was why things between her and her father were so volatile recently; Megan objected to the rules just like the others, but they were scared of him. Megan wasn’t.

  Youth was an enviable time.

  Miles gestured at Megan’s cell phone, which had lit up with another text.

  “Who are you talking to?”

  “My friend Ashley.” Megan shot back. “She and I were just talking.”

  “Just talking?”

  “I don’t need to explain every single thing I talk about with my friends to you, Dad.” Megan’s eyes were flashing. “It’s none of your business what I talk about.”

  Miles’ face had been slightly red from alcohol consumption. Now it was getting redder.

  This was going to go downhill rapidly if neither of them backed down. Miles and Megan were more alike than either cared to admit. At least Megan had some humility.

  Jonathan glanced at Chris, who looked as though he wanted to be elsewhere. Thomas and Carly were sitting on another couch, both watching Miles. Blake had now shifted onto the edge of his seat, looking ready to make a move on whoever charged first.

  Same scene, different day.

  “You don’t get to talk to me like that, young lady.”

  “And you don’t get to tell me when I can and can’t use my cell phone. I’m eighteen now. I’m not a little girl.”

  “Then stop acting like one.” Miles snapped. He slumped back. “As least it wasn’t your stupid boyfriend you were talking to.”

  “Darren isn’t stupid.” Megan slumped back and scowled. “And he ended it with me yesterday.”

  “Good. He wasn’t right for you.”

  “Darren was a nice guy, Dad.” Carly pointed out. “He and Megan had been together for two years.”

  Miles glared at his daughter.

  “Did I ask you to comment, Carly?”

  Carly sighed.

  “Come on, Dad, stop it. I’m an adult. You can’t tell me what I can and can’t say. And Megan’s eighteen now, as she’s pointed out just now. She doesn’t have to bow down to what you say all the time. Not anymore.” She gave Megan a slight smile. “And if she wants to be on her cell phone, she’s allowed. Just back down and enjoy Christmas, please? We want to enjoy this day with everyone, not listen to another argument.”

  Jonathan stared at Carly. That was the most he had heard her say in one go, especially toward their father. Miles looked like he had been told off for putting his hand in the cookie jar and was about to have a tantrum.

  “As long as she’s under my roof, Carly, she’s doing as she’s told. Put your phone away, Megan. I don’t want to see it out for the rest of the day or you’ll have it taken from you.”

  Megan started to protest, but Jonathan caught her eye and waved her into silence. He headed over to Emily and handed her the glass of water before turning to Miles.

  “Dad, enough. Leave Megan be. Carly’s right. This is Christmas. No more arguments, please?”

  The tension was thick. Jonathan could feel it like a blanket around his shoulders. Miles was scowling, ready to blow. Lynn had lowered her crochet and was watching the scene with a frown. This was going to end up with another argument, again on Christmas. Thanksgiving had been bad enough. Now this.

  “If only she would answer us like she answers her friends.” Miles muttered.

  Megan groaned.

  “Not this again, Dad.”

  “We wouldn’t have gone out and taken your car back if you hadn’t lied to us.”

  “I didn’t lie!” Megan shot to her feet. “I told you where I was and what I was doing, but you didn’t want to believe me. You took my car away because I wasn’t going to do as you said.”

  “Don’t talk to your father like that, Megan.” Lynn said sharply.

  Megan swung round on him.

  “Mom, Darren broke up with me because he was fed up with how controlling the two of you are, how much you had to call to make sure I was where I claimed to be. How you would follow me around and openly stare at him whenever we were together. How you did a background check on him at sixteen?” Megan shook Chris’ hand off when her brother reached for her. “He hated the scrutiny that he believed was ridiculous. You two smothered me, and him in turn, and he was fed up with it.” Jonathan then saw the tears welling in his little sister’s eyes. “I loved him, Dad, and you had to mess it up.”

  “Love.” Miles snorted. “You don’t know what love is. You’re just a kid.”

  “Miles, please.” Lynn glanced at her husband before turning to Megan. “Megan, we were concerned. We needed to make sure you didn’t do anything stupid.”

  “I’m not stupid, Dad! And it’s not always about sex. Not that we got a chance to fuck, seeing as you two were constantly standing around me.”

  Miles flinched, his face going even redder.

  “Don’t use that word in here!”

  “What word?” Emily chimed in. “Sex or fuck? Or are you upset that you’re discussing that your youngest child might be sexually active.”

  “Emily.” Jonathan warned. “Don’t.”

  Emily shrugged. Miles bared his teeth and took a deep breath.

  “Megan, you’re better off without him.”

  “I loved him, Dad!”

  “Like I said, you’re just a kid. You don’t know what love is.”

  “Okay, that’s enough.” Blake moved to stand between his sister and his father. “Dad, leave Megan alone. Today is not the day. We didn’t come here to see you embarrass her over something that doesn’t need to be discussed or even brought up.”

  “And I’m not allowed to talk about the fact your sister lied to us?”

  “I didn’t lie!” Megan shouted. She started past her brother, but Blake held her back. “And you’ve been discussing this farce since I came home from what was meant to be an awesome night to my first day as an adult!”

  “Megan…” Blake started, but Megan was pointing at her father.

  “You took my car for no reason! I told you I would be at Darren’s and then I would end up at Stacey’s. I don’t know what you got into your head, but I wasn’t lying to you!”

  “You should’ve been where you said you would be.” Lynn said.

  Megan groaned and stomped her foot before pacing away.

  “You’re not listening, again! I told you what I was doing. I did everything but give you an itinerary.” She glowered at her mother and then her father. “Why are you two such control freaks? You’ve done it to everyone here! Constantly calling as if losing the sound of our voices means that we’re dead, among other things. How my brothers and sisters have become functioning adults, I have no idea. You don’t even let us have friends over! I’m surprised any of us have friends.”

  “Teenagers don’t have respect for our things.” Miles said evenly. “Which I experienced with Emily and Jonathan’s friends. I wasn’t going to make that mistake again.”

  “Dad, it’s difficult to respect someone’s property when t
hey don’t respect the people who own it.” Jonathan pointed out.

  That was when Miles turned to his eldest son. Jonathan had to stop himself from stepping back. Even approaching forty, he was still nervous around his father.

  “What are you saying, Jonathan?”

  There is was again. That was the voice Miles used whenever things were about to turn nasty. The voice when someone was in big trouble. Jonathan had heard it many times in the navy, and it always made him uncomfortable. But he faced his father head-on this time.

  “Dad, you micro-manage and nitpick everything. We’ve all experienced it and it’s ramped up with each child. Even now as adults, you tell us what we should and shouldn’t be doing. Mostly telling us to get jobs you can be proud of.”

  “Jonathan…”

  “Look around you, Dad. All of us are successful workers. Can’t you just be proud of us for doing what we love instead of being unhappy for not becoming a replica of you?” Jonathan saw Miles flinch. “It’s a ridiculous way to reassert your authority over our lives, Dad. It doesn’t make you any better, and it’s certainly not going to make us fall in line.”

  The silence was deafening. Miles rose to his feet, his face now a dark red. Lynn looked like she was about to faint as her husband stalked over to Jonathan, waving his finger in his son’s face.

  “You may be a lieutenant commander in your job, Jonathan,” He snarled, “But that doesn’t give you the right to talk to me like that in my home.”

  “And being a father doesn’t give you the right to micro-manage Megan’s life.” Jonathan shot back. “She’s top of her class already without you two putting everything she does under the microscope. Leave her be and let her be her own person.”

  “Like you.” Miles sneered. “You think I’m going to let her turn into you? Become wayward as you did?”

  Jonathan barked out a laugh.

  “Do you want to go over what happened when I was seventeen, Dad? Do you really want to go there?”