table, as he slips into a chair and grabs a cup of coffee. The glass top rattles and the blue and gold painted china teacups jump in the saucers.
My mother doesn’t even blink. “You’re the one who’s making this difficult. You shouldn’t be pursuing this when you’re not ready,” she tells him, matter-of-factly.
He growls low in his throat and looks like he’s fighting to maintain control.
I take advantage of the moment of silence. “Good morning to you, both,” I say, sarcastically.
“Hey, sorry Reggie. Hey, Eva,” Tyson’s greeting is caustic and distracted.
My mother smiles warmly in our direction, but her eyes are tight with tension. “Eva, darling, I left my cream scarf upstairs a few weeks ago. Can you go find it and bring it to me?”
Eva glances at me in question, and I nod.
“Of course, Nana,” she says, and then darts from the room. She’ll be gone a while, and if she comes back, she’ll be empty-handed. My mother used to send us on errands whenever she wanted to get rid of us. I wish she’d sent me instead. Their fights are legion and never end well.
I continue boxing up the scones, without comment, and they dive back into their argument.
“Are you kidding? I’m bringing Phil Wolf’s new restaurant to Rivers Wilde. We have a waiting list for new residents at all our properties, and this is the third year I’ve been listed as who’s who.”
My mother nods, in agreement. “That’s all wonderful and you can continue to grow in your role. But until I know you’re ready, Erin is my choice. And the board will agree.”
“I am ready. Right now.” He slaps a hand on the table, again, and gives her a look of pure stupefaction.
“No, you’re not. I’m not sure you’ll ever be,” my mother says calmly, before she pops a scone into her mouth and moans in pleasure. “Regan, these are sinful. I think we should start selling these at Eat!”
Tyson’s handsome face goes hard as flint. My brothers are both so easily wounded by her. But their reactions couldn’t be more different. Remi clams up when he’s upset. Tyson is like a wounded animal and lashes out. I want to stop this Battle Royale before it escalates.
I place a hand over one of his, in a gesture of empathy, and as a sign that he needs to cool down.
He shakes my hand off and snatches up his phone and keys from the table, before he fixes my mother with a spiteful glare. “If you’re hoping Lucas Wilde is going to get his memory back, realize he made a huge mistake leaving us, and come back to you, it’s never going to happen.”
“Tyson,” I gasp, my voice full of sharp rebuke.
My mother doesn’t even flinch. “Don’t be silly, Tyson.”
He bristles. “It’s not silly. You’re disloyal. You’ve always punished Remi and I for looking like him. But this is too much. Are you really going to hire this outsider because you hate our father?” He snarls and then blinks, as if he’s shocked by his own words.
“Ty—” I gape in horror. My mother shakes her head at me, a signal to stay out of it.
She pops the last bite of scone into her mouth and chews it slowly. Then, she folds her hands in front of her on the table and regards Tyson with complete aplomb. He starts to squirm, and I have a flash of sympathy for him, because she’s about to ether him, without even raising her voice.
She quirks an eyebrow when he scoffs and looks away from her in answer. “I know you’re overwrought by the latest turn of events and not yourself. So, I will ignore your callous question,” her voice is as cold as ice. “This isn’t about loyalty, son. And outbursts like that prove your lack of readiness to lead. Learn to take no for an answer. If you want it, work until it turns into a yes. As talented and smart as you are, no one wants to work for you because you think you know everything. And you don’t even know a little bit.” Her smile is full of pity.
Tyson is visibly shaken.
“Mom, come on,” I chide her and reach for his hand. He yanks it back.
“I don’t need you to take up for me, Reggie. That is a lie, and she knows it. I’m leaving.” He stands.
“Please stay, I really want to talk about this idea,” I implore him, and he turns to me, his handsome face is so