Finding Home Read Free Page A

off the charts, he had no use for the academic world. As a matter of fact, he had gotten his degree not to please his father but as a grudging tribute to her. Because she’d begged him to give working in a different field a try, “on the slim chance” that he changed his mind later on in life.
    She poured a glass of orange juice for Jim and set it down next to his plate. “I’ll call the plumber from work today.”
    He shook his head, his hair falling into his eyes. He left it hanging there. She resisted the temptation to push back his hair, knowing that would somehow only lead to accusations that she was “inflicting her judgments” on him. Meaning that while her generation liked to see a person’s eyes, his didn’t see a reason for it.
    â€œDoesn’t need a plumber, it needs last rites,” he informed her glibly. He raised accusing eyes to her face. “Bathroom’s ancient, Mom. Why don’t you do what you’ve been talking about and finally get the damn thing renovated?”
    â€œDon’t curse at the table,” she told him.
    Jim pushed his chair back from the table roughly a foot. “Why don’t you get the damn thing renovated?” he repeated.
    She sighed, giving up the argument. Someone had told her that all sons went through a phase like this and that he would eventually turn around and be, if not the loving boy she remembered, at least civil.
    â€œYour father—”
    The sneer on Jim’s lips leaked into his voice. “Right, God says no.”
    There were times when she could put up with it, andtimes like now, when her patience was in short supply, that she could feel her temper threatening to flare. “Jim, a little respect—”
    He lowered his eyes to the plate, as if the French toast suddenly had all of his attention. “As little as I can muster, Mom. As little as I can muster.”
    It was an old familiar dance and she had no time to go through the steps today, or to point out in how many ways Brad had been so much of a better father to him than her own had been to her. It only fell on deaf ears, anyway. Besides, she’d promised to go in to work early today to start implementing the new software program.
    Stacey had worked at the Newport Pediatric Medical Group for the past fifteen years as their office manager, beginning as their all-around girl Friday—she really preferred the term “girl” to “woman” as she got older. All seven doctors associated with the group depended on her to keep things running smoothly. That included making sure that the new software package helped rather than hindered.
    Still, she couldn’t just leave the house on this note. Brad might drive her crazy at times, but that had no bearing on his relationship with his son. “He’s your father—”
    Jim shrugged as he continued communing with his breakfast. “Not my fault.”
    â€œNo,” she said sharply, “but your attitude certainly is.”
    Jim raised his head. He smiled at her with Brad’s smile, tugging at her heart even as he infuriated her. “Tell him to change his toward you and maybe we’ll see.”
    This, too, was familiar ground. Jim claimed he didn’t like the way his father treated her. “Your father’s attitude is fine, Jim.”
    The smile became a sneer. “Yeah, for someone out of the Dark Ages.”
    â€œLast time you said he was like someone out of the fifties.”
    The look he gave her said he knew so much more than she did. “Same thing. This is a partnership, Mom. Seems to me he treats you like a junior apprentice.”
    Come back after you’ve been married awhile and then we’ll talk. Out loud, she said, “Marriage is more like a work in progress—”
    â€œSo,” Jim cut in, “where’s the progress?”
    He made her tired. Arguing with Jim always made her tired. It was like boxing with