The sound of the front door opening drew Jon out of his homework-induced trance. Somewhere along the way, he'd turned on Sarah's laptop and entered her password, though he couldn't remember physically typing it out. But he had an article from the JFK Library open on Jacqueline Kennedy, and if he tabbed over to Microsoft Word, there was half an essay written about her, as well. Half an essay that he had written, himself.
"Jon, sweetie," a woman's voice called from the foyer.
"I'm doing homework, Mom!" Jon stopped as that last word exited his mouth. Brought his fingers to his lips. Felt his mouth as he mouthed the word again. He had no idea who had just called his name, but yet, it felt right to call her "mom," somehow.
He only had a few seconds to ponder over this, however, as the quick click of high-heeled shoes over marble flooring approached the small room he was holed up in.
"Are you almost done?" Susan McMillan's beauty pageant smile slid gracefully in from the side of the doorframe. "Your father just signed a big new client today, and he wants us to meet him at the Oxbone Tavern in about half an hour to celebrate."
Jon tried to hide his surprise. The Oxbone Tavern? That was a super-fancy restaurant. Super-pricey. The head chef was friends with Gordon Ramsay or something, Jon didn't know the whole story, but he knew that his own parents, his original parents, thought it was way too expensive, and a waste of money. It had a Michelin star or something. But Jon couldn't think about that, in that moment. He glanced back at the computer screen.
"Oh, I'm done with everything for tomorrow," Jon answered, barely missing a beat. "This essay isn't due until Friday, but I wanted to get ahead. I'm at a good stopping point."
"Great, then you'll have time to change into something nicer before we head out." Susuan gave a small chuckle. "You're not going to the Oxbone Tavern in leggings and a T-shirt, after all."
It wasn't a discussion, it wasn't a request, it was just a statement of fact. Susan McMillan knew that her child wasn't going to the Oxbone Tavern unless they were dressed nicely. And Jon could feel that fact sinking into his being as Susan turned and clicked away, with no fanfare or show.
"We'll head out at 6:45," she called as she left.
Jon looked at the clock on his-- the clock on Sarah's laptop. It said 6:24.
