We moved to the dining room together. I sat between my parents, the same seat I had occupied since I was a child. Victoria immediately took charge, her eyes soft with maternal affection as she began piling food onto my plate with generous, loving portions.
"Eat more, Dexter. You look like you've lost weight," she said, placing another thick slice of salmon on my plate, followed by a generous scoop of mashed potatoes and a ladle of soup. "You've been working too hard lately, haven't you? Don't think I don't notice."
I felt utterly pampered — cared for in a way no harem member, no matter how devoted or broken by pleasure, could ever replicate. This was different. This was pure, unconditional love from the woman who had brought me into the world.
Even my usually reserved father joined in, pushing the basket of warm bread toward me with a small smile. "Your mother is right. You've been gone too much these days. Eat properly while you're home."
