THE TOWERS FAMILY SAGA
        EPISODE 5

After Angela left, Shirley
remained in the hallway,
feeling the familiar
conflict. Her father's
connections, her mother's
media platform, for once,
the Towers family influence
could be used for something
meaningful. Her phone
buzzed. A text from Mary:
"Family dinner tonight.
7 PM. Mandatory. Your
father insists."
Shirley grimaced. She
texted back: "I'll be
there. But I'm not changing
clothes." Mary's response
came immediately: "Of
course not. That would
require you to compromise,
and we know that's
impossible." Shirley smiled
despite herself. At least
her mother was honest about
their dynamic.

By 7 PM, all six members of
the Towers family had
assembled in the formal
dining room. Patricia and
her staff had prepared a
beautiful meal:
herb-crusted salmon,
roasted vegetables, and
various side dishes. Robert
sat at the head of the
table, Mary at the opposite
end. Virginia and Shirley
flanked one side, Dorothy
and Barbara the other. The
arrangement felt more like
opposing armies at a
negotiation than a family
gathering.
Barbara Towers, eighteen
with long dark hair
partially hiding her face,
wore an oversized sweater
and looked particularly
uncomfortable.
"Thank you all for being
here," Robert began. "I
know everyone's busy, but
I think we need to
actually talk to each
other. Without distractions,
without agendas. Just...
be a family."
Mary's TV voice was firmly
in place. "So, Virginia,
tell us about the wedding
plans. Have you and James
made any decisions?"
Virginia exchanged a glance
with her father. "Actually,
yes. James and I have
decided on the Huntington
Botanical Gardens. Three
hundred guests maximum.
We're working with a
planner who specializes in
intimate, elegant events."
Mary's fork paused midway
to her mouth. "Virginia,
we discussed this. Your
father's business
relationships, "Can survive
not being invited to my
wedding," Virginia
interrupted. "Mom, I
appreciate your concerns,
but James and I are clear
about what we want. This
is our marriage, our
beginning. We want it to
feel authentic to who we
are, not like a corporate
obligation."
Shirley raised her glass.
"Hear, hear. Finally,
someone in this family
willing to prioritize
meaning over optics."
Mary's composure cracked.
"That's not fair.
Everything your father
and I have built has been
for this family. The
opportunities you've all
had, the education, the
resources, the doors that
opened for you, those
things didn't happen by
accident. They happened
because we understood that
success requires strategic
thinking."
"And sacrifice," Robert
added quietly. "Your
mother's right. Building
what we've built required
making choices. Sometimes
difficult ones."
Dorothy, who'd been quiet
until now, spoke up. "But
at what cost? When's the
last time we actually
enjoyed being together,
instead of treating
family time like another
obligation to check off a
list?" The table fell
silent.
Barbara pushed food around
her plate, not eating.
Dorothy noticed,
exchanging a concerned
glance with her father.
"Barbara, you've been
quiet," Robert said gently.
"How are you doing? With
everything, graduation
coming up, college
decisions?"
Barbara looked up, startled
to be addressed directly.
"I'm fine." "You don't look
fine," Dorothy said softly.
"You look exhausted. Are
you sleeping okay?" "Oh my
God, can everyone stop
analyzing me?" Barbara said
suddenly, her voice loud.
"I said I'm fine!"
Barbara's outburst
surprised everyone. Mary
leaned forward.
"Sweetheart, we're just
concerned. If something's
bothering you," Barbara's
voice broke. "What's
bothering me is that
everyone in this family is
so busy being successful
and important that no one
actually sees each other!
Virginia is working
hundred-hour weeks trying
to make partner. Shirley's
fighting against every
value this family
represents. Dorothy's
studying everyone like
we're research subjects
instead of her family. And
you and Dad..." She paused.
"You're never here. Not
really. Your bodies might
be present, but your minds
are always somewhere else.
On the next deal, the next
broadcast, the next thing
that matters more than us."
The silence that followed
was devastating in its
completeness. Finally,
Robert spoke, his voice
rough with emotion. "You're
right." Everyone turned to
look at him.
"Barbara's right. All of
you are right, in different
ways. Your mother and I...
we built something we're
proud of. But maybe we lost
something in the process.
Maybe we forgot that the
whole point of success is
supposed to be creating
good lives, not just
impressive resumes."