Page 55 of A Case of You
“What, having ambition and a strong work ethic is an abomination?”
“No, what the three of you do!”
Brandon crossed his arms over his chest, really enjoying this game now that he knew he had Jake’s number and the man was obviously rattled. “And what do we do? Explain how being gainfully employed homeowners is an abomination?”
“You—” Jake had apparently lost sight of the fact that he was outnumbered and everyone had fallen quiet and was staring at him. “You do thosepervertthings!”
“You mean going to our daughter’s swim meets? Housework? Being gainfully employed? I’m not tracking.”
“That’snotwhat I mean and you know it. You’rehomosexuals.”
“So?”
“You’re worthless! All of you!”
Miranda stepped forward, and the dark glare in her eyes would have made Brandon take a step back if her look had been directed his way. She got right up in Jake’s face again and held up her left hand, where a simple gold band circled her ring finger.
“You mean you have a problem with me and my wife, despite the fact that she spent twelve years in the Army, including a tour of duty in the Middle East flying medivac choppers and saving soldiers’ lives? How long wereyouin the Army?”
“I-I—”
“For God’s sake, Jake,” Carl Powell said. “Shutcher damn trap for once in yer stupid life. Ain’t nobody here want to hear a damn thing comes out yer mouth. You look like a friggin’ idiot.”
Jake didn’t know when to stop. He found Stuart, side-stepping Miranda and aiming for him. “You should stop this bullshit and move back home. Dad isn’t getting any younger and he could use your help. It’s your duty. Ain’t like you’re legally married to this guy. Everyone in town talks about my queer brother.”
Brandon edged himself between Jake and Stuart. “Why don’t you quityourjob and do it? Seems like anyone could sell cars. And you are the oldest son, right?”
John had apparently hit his limit. “You know, I’m sorry, Jake, but we don’t have room for you at the restaurant for dinner tonight. The table we reserved isn’t big enough. Sorry about that, but wedidtell you not to come tonight.”
Jake sneered at him. “Oh, so I see how it is. You too broke to pay for it, huh? That why you can’t do right by my sister?”
Lara stepped up. “Actually,I’mpaying for it,” she said. “As a wedding gift to them. And I’m not paying foryou.” She was dressed in jeans and a blouse, her dark brown hair pulled back in a tidy ponytail. “How much did you offer to chip in for this weekend, by the way?”
He ignored her taunt. “And what do you do to afford that, huh? Sell drugs on the side while you clean rooms at a hotel? Who the hell are you?”
She slowly shook her head. “My name’s Dr. Lara Martinez. Sister of the groom. I’m a cardiologist. Oh, sorry, that’s a complicated and a really big word. Let me simplify it so you can understand.” She slowed her speech, as well as raised the volume, like she thought she was talking to an idiot. “That means my specialty is blood systems, like veins and arteries, and the heart.”
Jake’s face went red. “Listen, bitch—”
“Pendejo, you haven’tseena bitch, yet.” Their third sister, Ariana, stepped forward. Lara and Ariana high-fived. “Tagging you in,chica.”
Ariana grinned. “Dr. Ariana Martinez. I’m a structural engineer. Spent my education and career working around men who thought they were better than women simply because they were born with a penis.”
She turned both palms up and wiggled her fingers at him. “Bring it,bruto. I’ve dealt with far worse from far smarter than you. Not to mention better-looking than you. And for fuck’s sake, make it original. Because,damn,boy, your Saltine American-ass is sorely lacking any kind of game. You’re just some poor dumb hick who never learned how to have a life beyond bullying people and talking smack to people stupid enough or scared enough to listen to you.”
Jake seemed to be at a loss for words.
* * * *
Stuart wasn’t sure that maybe he’d dropped into an alternate dimension. Both Eileen and Robert wore wide grins as they watched the Martinez siblings systematically take Jake out, one by one.
“You’re an asshole, Jake,” Stuart heard himself say, breaking the silence.
Jake rounded on him. “What the fuck you say to me, Stewie?”
“You heard me!” Stuart yelled, his voice echoing through the room. “You’re nothing but a damn bully, and you’ve never been anything but a bully all our lives.”
“I took care of you when you were a kid, you ungrateful little shit!”
