“Uh . . .” Dad glanced at Kel, who reached across the table to take Emmy’s hand.
“Not tonight, honey. I already said no, okay?”
Emmy pouted and pushed her plate away.
“No, I get it,” Cory continued. “But that’s where the real money is, film. No offense, but books are sliding more and more out of social circles. No one’s talking about what they’ve read—it’s all movies and TV shows and video games. Man, if you could get a gig with a video game producer, that would be the big time.”
I started clearing the table and piling dishes in the sink.
“How about you, Kel? How’s government work?” Cory said, switching his aim.
“Oh, you know, same old.”
“I heard about that new license thing they’re coming up with. That’s going to screw up the system royally in my opinion. Just another check on the average person. Like all these regulations on productions. You wouldn’t believe how many hoops these corporations have to jump through to qualify for a loan. I mean, the government’s got businesses totally pinned down with environmental restrictions and whatnot. They’re so worried about keeping some wetlands and a few species safe, they don’t care they’re killing the economy. Honestly, if they aren’t careful, the cure’s going to be worse than the disease.”
Kel’s fingers were white where she gripped her glass. Dad must’ve seen it, too, because a thought seemed to strike him, and he changed the subject.
“Hey, how’s that pretty girlfriend of yours you brought home for Christmas? Was it Carri? I was telling someone the other day how funny it was with your names being almost the same.”
Cory tilted his head, then shot a look at Kel and me before focusing on Dad again. “We broke up, Dad. Like four months ago. I called you after it happened. I’ve been talking about Tanya all evening. Don’t you remember?”
The light went out of Dad’s eyes. He blinked. “Right. Yeah, sure, I forgot. Sorry.”
Cory sent a quizzical look at me, and I resisted the urge to leap across the table and strangle him.
“Grampa, I’m done. Can I go outside?” Emmy said, lower lip still stuck out.
“Sure, darlin’。 I’ll go with you,” Dad said, standing up. Alicia followed them out the back door, and the house was quiet again.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Kel said.
Cory recoiled. “What do you mean?”
“Do you not understand what’s happening to him?”
“Look, I know he’s getting forgetful, but I don’t think he was listening to me at all. I’ve been talking about Tanya and—”
“He’s got dementia,” I said. “It’s not forgetfulness, it’s a disease.”
“Well, now that you bring it up, it would’ve been nice to go to one of his appointments and actually meet with the doctor. Or better yet, he could’ve come to Chicago and seen someone there like I suggested, but no one listens to me apparently.”
“He got two opinions,” Kel said. Her voice was starting to shake. “One of them was in the city. You could’ve come to either.”
Cory ignored this. “I didn’t think it was this bad. Neither of you said anything to me. Business as usual, I guess.”
“We told you this was going to happen at Christmas,” I said. “Maybe you were the one not listening. It’s not our fault you only swing by when it’s convenient.”
“Right, penalize me for having a career and getting out of this Podunk town.”
Kel made a sound of derision and shook her head. She grabbed her plate and moved to the sink. “No one’s penalizing you for anything. You do that well enough on your own, Cory.”
“No, I get it. It’s the gruesome twosome all over again. Wait, no, it never stopped, did it? You always teamed up against me, always tried to undermine me as kids, and it’s really sad you’re still doing it. Grow up.”
“Listen, I don’t know if you’re in denial about what’s happening,” I said, trying to keep my voice even. “But it’s happening whether you’re here or in Chicago. It’s going to get worse. And the last thing Dad needs is someone asking him why he doesn’t remember something.”
“Sure, sure. It’s funny, I take time off from work, bring gifts, bring supper, and this is the thanks I get. You know, Mom was right,” Cory said, crossing his arms. “You guys never took anything seriously. Not church or school or any of the stuff she tried teaching us. You didn’t listen, and I guess that’s why you’re where you are now.”