Bearing

Whoosh sounds from the dishwasher drove the mind. Dessert followed the main meal. The occupants of the table looked slightly tired, satisfied, or about to crash. The talk resumed.

“And if she does run a billion dollar business, what business is it of yours how she spends her money?” Amorlia Corbint, 22, pushed.

“She could’ve saved those jobs she cut!” Ferland Corbint, 57, pulled.

“It’s ridiculous, excuse me.”

“That’s right, to call your old man ridiculous.”

“I didn’t mean—”

“But you did.”

“Drop it!” Trelena Corbint said. “Every year we try to have a decent gathering and you two can’t even have a civil discourse. You devolve into brutes hurling insults—”

“I didn’t mean—”

“But you said it so….”

“Dad, pardon me.”

“You’re pardoned.”

“Now, let’s not have these fights.”

Ding!

“The pie’s ready,” Corbint observed and excused himself from the table. He walked from the dining room into the kitchen with slight haste.

“Now, you listen to your father. He’s older and wiser than you. You’re working on your master’s. That’s beautiful honey. But don’t belittle the man. He’s doing everything he can to keep his head. You know he’s still reeling from the layoffs. The layoffs of even engineers who get a million dollars a year he can relate to. You have to remember that.”

“It is hot so be careful.”

“The ice cream is going to melt, would you get the dishes, Amorlia?” Trelena asked.

“This is an excellent sweet potato pie, Free,” Trelena remarked. Her voice went up at the end just a bit.

“It’s great that you were able to make this, dad,” Amorlia said.

“Why? Because I’m out on my ass?”

“Freland!” Trelena exclaimed.

“I didn’t mean that, Dad, and you know it. I’m talking about how wonderful this pie is and you jump to your being without work. It’s a complete fallacy. The whole thing is untrue. It falls on mom and me to witness your undoing.”

“Undoing?! Young lady I will have you know that there is no undoing in this household. I am simply on another level of knowing what I am supposed to do. In between baking pies, I’m working, if you must know, on my own business.”

Amorlia brightened. “That’s great, Dad!”

“Yes. I’m going to use my severance pay to establish an LLC for pies. I know you have always said I should go and do my own thing as far as my own pies are concerned. If you both love them, why can’t Delaware?”

“That’s so great, Free,” Trelena beamed.

“I’m happy for you, Daddy,” Amorlia said, a hint of sadness creeping into her voice.

“Yes,” he took a swig of wine. “I’m only doing this because of the both of you. You’re both the shining points in my life. I wouldn’t be able to function without you. I appreciate your support.”

“Did you sign up as an individual because you don’t think you’ll make it as a corporation?”

Amorlia asked. Her voice was even and nonjudgmental.

“Why would you ask me that? Why would you sit there with your melting ice cream and ask me a question like that? That college education has really gone to your head. So what if I was a sergeant major in the Air Force. Like I haven’t been able to keep this family going with the might of a diamond driver. Like I haven’t been pulling my weight. Young lady, don't you get up from this table while I’m talking!”

Amorlia ran into the bathroom.

“Free….”

“Trelena, I’m not in the mood.”

She got up from the table as Corbint sliced into his pie.