Unconventional Lovers ☑️

Chapter 15 - Family Matters

Since they came back home, it was a couple of days until Jessie had his first family dinner with his parents.

The sounds of cutlery hitting against the plates bounced from the walls. Jessie couldn't help but think the noises were a welcome distraction from sitting with his parents.

Jessie sat across from his brother as he offered a shy smile to him. On either side of the table were their parents, observing their every move and action like usual.

Jessie was very hungry as he reached to grab some roast potatoes for his plate. His hand reached the ladle and Jessie poured himself a spoonful when Kathy smacked his hand.

"Where's your sense of respect Jessie?" Kathy snapped as her hawk eyes bared through Jessie's soul. "Have we not taught you any manners?"

Jessie bowed his head as he apologised for his actions. "It won't happen again."

Kathy stood up from the table as she began to serve the people around her - she did it from the eldest to the youngest. Her husband Jude was first, she then served herself a spoonful of potatoes, and then she added an extra serving to Cameron's plate.

She then sat back down as she adjusted the napkin on her lap, sipping her red wine as she swirled it in her glass.

Jessie took a deep breath to try and not whelm up. He had calmed down by the time he reached for the potatoes himself, but Cameron was quicker as he reached for the same dish.

Cameron made sure he got a lot on the spoon, as he then placed it above the chicken on Jessie's plate.

Cameron continued to smile at Jessie as he continued to serve his brother food, to try and make up for what their mother didn't do for her youngest son.

Cameron took away the large portion of broccoli on Jessie's plate, and then added more cauliflower, green beans, and gravy instead. It was a small token of gesture, and Jessie was appreciative of the symbolism from his brother.

Jessie tried his best to rush through the dinner as quick as possible. He wanted to return to his room so that he could actually relax, and he couldn't do that when his parents were nearby.

"Cameron, how are things going with school?" Jude asked as he looked at his children for the first time tonight.

"I'm doing better, Jessie's been helping me a lot." Cameron told them as he explained how much of a help Jessie's tutoring was. "I got a B on my last paper."

"Sounds like he's not doing a good enough job..."

Cameron tried to laugh off the awkward tension that was created by their mother. "If it wasn't for Jessie's help then I probably would have failed ages ago. I'm just glad one of us got the brains."

Jessie laughed for the first time that night as he looked at his brother with admiration in his eyes. "And the beauty too."

"Nonsense," Jude dismissed. "Cameron is the most handsome and dashing man in this room - apart from me of course."

"Oh Jude..." Kathy giggled.

Jessie began to drink his entire glass of water before serving himself another glass. He was drinking that down too so that he could ignore all of the subtext from his parents.

Kathy reached inside her purse and brought out a sheet of paper that she was keeping with her. "Cameron honey, I couldn't help but notice the card payments on your car. Did something happen sweetie?"