Family

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Lainey asks you in shock.

“What the fuck am I doing here? What the fuck are you doing here!? What happened to you!?” You ask her in even more shock.

“I asked you first. What the fuck are you doing here?” Lainey asks, a lot more serious, and her anger still obviously rising.

“That’s the first thing you’re going to ask me after a fucking decade?” You ask your sister in annoyance.

“Fifteen… but who’s counting?” Lainey corrects you with a thick layer of sarcasm.

“It seems you two know each other as well.” Mr. Hoffman points out the obvious.

“Cut the crap, Avi! A control freak like you knows your guest list top to bottom.” Lainey calls Mr. Hoffman out.

“I don’t appreciate your tone, Elaine.” Mr. Hoffman replies, his demeanor and body language completely different from just a moment ago, reminiscent of the time you first met Becca. It’s fitting too, since you feel like this is the first time you’re actually meeting the real Aviel Hoffman. At least, the Aviel Hoffman that Becca grew up with.

“Well, I don’t appreciate you setting me up like this either.” Lainey retorts, not backing down.

“Joseph is my daughter’s guest. An invitation, mind you, that occurred yesterday. If you feel set-up, I suggest you speak to Rebecca. I have nothing to do with whatever imaginary slight you feel.” Mr. Hoffman tells your younger sister.

“Of course you’re not involved. Aviel Hoffman always has an alibi.” Lainey sarcastically replies.

“I’m leaving.” She then adds with finality, before turning away from you and Mr. Hoffman.

“Of course you’re leaving. Typical Lainey move.” You pointedly reply, unable to control yourself; and Lainey stops in her tracks before turning towards you once more in seething anger.

Mr. Hoffman seems to recognize the outburst about to explode from your sister and preempts it before she can make a scene. Mr. Hoffman steps in between you and Lainey and places a hand on her shoulder.

“The direction you were going was the right one if you were serious about taking your leave.” Mr. Hoffman tells her with a tone of warning, while his other arm directs her to the elevator area. Meanwhile, Lainey just stares daggers at you. She’s pursing her lips, not wanting to incur the wrath of Mr. Hoffman.

“Would you need an escort to the elevators?” Mr. Hoffman asks her pointedly. Lainey continues to stare at you, and you stare right back. She finally breaks the tension and looks back at Mr. Hoffman.

“No. I don’t need any help.” Lainey replies to him, before staring back at you. “Unlike some people.” Lainey adds smugly before turning away again. It was obviously a dig at you; but with Mr. Hoffman in front of you, you decide to let it go… and let your sister walk away. Mr. Hoffman watches your sister make her way to the area with the elevators before turning around with his jovial smile once more, before addressing you.

“What was that about, Joseph?” He asks you.

“I’d be happy to explain, Avi; but I want to make sure that my sister wasn’t onto something when she accused you of knowing our issues beforehand. Did you set this up?” You ask him, as calmly as you could.

“Does your entire family have trust issues, Joseph? I already answered your sister, and I’m not fond of repeating myself.” Mr. Hoffman answers you in his serious demeanor. Although, you recognize he’s tempering it slightly to sound a bit more jovial than how he addressed Lainey.

“You also acted surprised when Mrs. Sachs recognized who I was.” You respond. “Yet, you knew my history with her. You even pointed out a specific detail that not many would know about her getting hired as CEO because she ‘discovered’ me. I’m saying that those two things don’t add up to your surprise, Avi; and despite my negative relationship with my sister, I must agree with her that there’s a chance that you orchestrated our reunion.” You point out, trying not to sound like you’re accusing him like Lainey did. Mr. Hoffman gives you an impressed smile, before wrapping his arm around your shoulder again.

“I guess I can’t deny anymore that I did some homework on you, Joseph.” Mr. Hoffman admits. “Although, with Becca’s short notice, my background check wasn’t as thorough as I would normally have it. I wasn’t even able to do any research on your other girlfriends. Nonetheless, I admit that I did know your relationship with Miranda.” Mr. Hoffman continues.

“I learned of your career, and I pieced together the common connections we have in that regard; but that’s about all of my prior knowledge of you.” Mr. Hoffman informs you. He doesn’t seem to be lying, but you wouldn’t be surprised if he’s a trained liar; so you take that statement with a grain of salt.

“However, your story with Elaine is quite different. I knew of Elaine from her husband —” Mr. Hoffman informs you, and you can’t help but cut him off from continuing.

“Lainey’s married!?” You react in shock.

“Widowed.” Mr. Hoffman answers you calmly. “Vicente is no longer with us.” He adds, letting you react to that information before continuing, probably not wanting to get cut off again. “As I was saying, I knew her as Elaine Montemayor, and not as Elaine Craig. I honestly still think of her as Elaine Montemayor, despite her choice to revert to her maiden name. I sincerely didn’t connect you two together as possible siblings due to thinking that ‘Craig’ is a common enough surname.” Mr. Hoffman explains to you. He pauses again to let you take in the information, before proceeding to ask his question.

“If I may ask now, why was Elaine irate in discovering your presence here?” Mr. Hoffman asks you.

“Lainey cut off her ties with us as soon as she graduated high school. She left us a letter and left home.” You tell him, the emotion in your voice is still apparent, and it’s Mr. Hoffman that interjects your explanation this time.

“That explains your remark about her leaving then.” Mr. Hoffman observes, making you nod.

“When the authorities found out where she was after we filed a missing persons report, they told us they had to end the search since Lainey told them she wasn’t missing. They told us that since she wasn’t breaking any laws, and since she was already emancipated from our parents, the authorities had to respect her privacy.” You explain to Mr. Hoffman.

“I see. I assume after that incident you lost all contact with her?” Mr. Hoffman asks you, and you nod in response. “That explains how you didn’t know she was married.” Mr. Hoffman observes.

“Can I ask, Avi. Does… does Lainey have any children with her husband?” You ask curiously, after having taken a deep breath to calm yourself down.

“No. Vicente was too old to bear her children.” Mr. Hoffman answers.

“Oh. Lainey married a…” You begin to ask, but can’t find the polite word to refer to Lainey’s ex-husband.

“A fossil like me?” Mr. Hoffman continues for you. “Yes. She did.” He answers with a chuckle, which you immediately judge her for; something Mr. Hoffman notices. “Vicente and Elaine genuinely loved each other, Joseph. I can assure you of that.” Mr. Hoffman informs you, after seeing your judgemental look of your sister.

“As one of Vicente’s close friends, her being as young as she was when they got married, I feared she didn’t have the most honest of intentions for my old friend. A concern she quickly assuaged, mind you.” Mr. Hoffman begins to explain.

“She gave Vicente happiness in the twilight of his years. She was his muse, inspiring him to create his magnum opus after a storied career already. For her part, she was Vicente’s biggest advocate. She actually donated some of his paintings for tonight’s auction. They were a great team until the very end, and she eventually got herself into our group of friends’ good graces.” Mr. Hoffman adds.

“All that tells me is that she’s had access to a phone all these years.” You reply snarkily, unable to control your anger at your sister.

“Her quest for independence didn’t sit well with your family, it seems.” Mr. Hoffman observes after your remark.

“Quest?” You react in disbelief. “I apologize, Avi; but what she went on wasn’t a quest. She decided to leave us and not talk to us like we weren’t a part of her life anymore. What didn’t sit well with my family was being **** to treat her the same way she treats us, like we don’t exist… even if we don’t want to.” You explain.

Mr. Hoffman smiles, and pats you on the shoulder before squeezing it and walking with his arm still around your shoulders.

“I can appreciate a man with a strong sense of family.” Mr. Hoffman starts saying.

“I guess that’s why you were **** into a sabbatical after your divorce. It must have been devastating for a man that places an importance on family to see his own be split apart. To have it happen to you twice… It’s understandable why you’re livid.” Mr. Hoffman observes. Although you personally think his interpretation is inaccurate, you don’t bother correcting him.

“I have a strong sense of family too, Joseph. You and I have that in common.” Mr. Hoffman informs you. “I love my daughter and I want her to be happy. I tolerated her proclivities because of that love. I gave her a high ranking position despite her lack of experience because of that love. You are the sign from God that tells me the investment of my love wasn’t in vain, and that my lineage and my legacy will continue through them.” Mr. Hoffman tells you, his delivery full of pride and conviction, but you’re not exactly liking his wording of what he’s telling you.

“Ladies and gentlemen, dinner will be served in a few minutes, and the formal program will begin shortly thereafter. Please take your seats.” A lady from the main stage announces.

“It’s that time already?” Mr. Hoffman says with a jovial laugh once more. “We’ll continue this later, Joseph. I must take my leave for now.” Mr. Hoffman informs you, and you give him a nod that you understand. Mr. Hoffman then gives you a pat on the back before walking away.

…

“And we will continue this, Joseph.” Mr. Hoffman suddenly adds after turning back towards you.

“You haven’t introduced me to your lovely girlfriends yet.”