Esmeralda storms into her son’s study to see him fuming and on the verge to have a fit.
“Benton,” Esmeralda growling; “what has gotten into you of late? You knew your father was going to be doing some cooking-“
“Rabbit Stew,” Benton growling while interrupting.
“You growl back at me again son,” Esmeralda right up at him; “and I’ll slap the fur off you.”
“Mother,” Benton looking shocked; “you wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh I would Benton,” Esmeralda looking stern; “just because you weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth, does not give you the right to act like ass.”
“We’re allergic to silver mother,” Benton looking grumpy.
“It’s an expression,” Esmeralda snapping back; “yes you had a hard life. Yes being poor was not fun. But your father did everything he did to ensure a roof was over your head and good food in your belly. Just because a meal reminds you of those hard times doesn’t mean you need to storm and stomp off in anger. Despite what you may think,” Esmeralda pointing a clawed finger at Benton; “family is the true wealth. Not large sums of money and precious valuables. If you would have understood that, then perhaps there would be photos of your daughter all over the house, but I haven’t seen a single one.”
Benton silent as he stares down at his mother; he just heads to a book case to open the secret room that was once a panic room.
“I keep all the pictures of Frieda in here,” Benton answering; “come and see for yourself mom.”
“Why keep pictures of your daughter hidden away,” Esmeralda asking.
“Because a lot of times,” Benton answers; “when I’m working at home, I get frustrated and angry. I come in here to see why I work as hard as I do. You may think,” Benton picking up a picture of him cradling Frieda in his arms after she was born. “That I don’t know what’s precious, but I do. I just like to keep her close,” Handing the picture to his mother; “but lately she and I have had issues.”
“Is this because of your bipolar disorder,” Esmeralda looking at a smiling Benton holding his daughter for the first time; “who took the photo?”
“Lance,” Benton answers; “and no my bipolar has not exasperated the divide between father and daughter. Our issues go well beyond that. Mom,“ Benton sighing; ”I know now I have put business before Frieda, leaving her alone in the care of our household staff. A few weeks ago she blew up at me, tired of the way Amanda and I treat her as nothing more than a status symbol.”
“How did that make you feel,” Esmeralda looking at another photo of Frieda.
“Pissed,” Benton answers; “I was floored at how she could effortlessly tear me down and call me out to the carpet.”
“Was Frieda right,” Esmeralda asking.
“Well,” Benton sighing; “I didn’t exactly enjoy the way she said it, but yeah Frieda was right. You know she screwed me out of a business deal.”
“Let me guess,” Esmeralda looking at her son; “it’s the reason why you went to Tachibana’s and attacked several security guards.” Esmeralda looks at her son as he looks on shocked; “Anton told me as we drove here yesterday. He filled me in on a few things.”
“I got kicked off the council as a result,” Benton looking forlorn; “Lance is now the were-panther rep until Frieda turns twenty one. Then she takes over.”
Esmeralda puts the picture down and then does a cursory stare at the rest of the pictures.
“You ever thought of a photo album son,” Esmeralda asking.
“Frieda said the exact same thing;” Benton smiling; “this room is the photo album.”
“Well,” Esmeralda looking at her son; “before Anton and I head back after the holidays, we are going to want copies of some of these pictures.”
“Fine,” Benton shaking his head as he escorts his mother out of the converted panic room; “we’ll go through them in a few days from now.”
“In the meantime,” Esmeralda grinning; “how about a plate of my hot biscuits to go with the stew your dad made for supper.”
“I suppose,” Benton sighing; “just tell dad no baloney sandwiches. One reminder of our difficult time is enough.”
“No promises there son,” Esmeralda chuckling.
“I don’t want Frieda or Amanda to know how hard we had it mom,” Benton looking ashamed; “please talk to dad, have him lay off the stories of us struggling.”
“I’ll talk to Anton about that,” Esmeralda hugging her son; “but your father had an ulterior motive with supper. And that is to remind you of your roots and to not be ashamed of it; so give your father the benefit of the doubt, it’s been a long a time since we all got together for a family dinner and it’s something your dad has looked forward to for a long time.”
“Dad is pushing what,” Benton thinking; “two hundred now and he into his fifth childhood?”
“Your father has always been a child at heart,” Esmeralda smiling; “Its why I’ve always enjoyed his carefree nature.”
“Keep him out of my garage then,” Benton shaking his head; “if he sees my Lamborghini Veneno, I’m going to die.”
“Oh you don’t have to worry about your father wanting to take a spin in that red painted beauty;” Esmeralda smiling.
“Thank goodness,” Benton grinning.
“Your worry is me wanting to take that beast for a spin,” Esmeralda laughing as she looks at the ashen look on her son’s face as he lets go from hugging his mother.