Still, things are going pretty well. Maybe I can get through this after all.
“How’s LA?” Dad asks me.
I tense up.
I figured when I didn’t approach him after we arrived, he would have taken the hint. I’m not here for him. He’s just the bastard I have to see while I’m here. But he’s obviously not going to let me skate by without stirring up shit. I can tell by the expression on his face that he’s testing me. And it’s a test I don’t mind failing.
Keep it together. Keep it together for Kate and Roger.
17
It’s shitty that Mikey had to come back into this toxic environment. But I’m impressed that he’s willing to be here, knowing that it’s what Kate needs right now.
Tension lingers in the room, especially now that Kirk has singled out Mikey.
Kate sits sideways in her chair, facing away from me as she holds a plastic spoon of mushy sweet potatoes in front of Roger’s face. As she guides it to his mouth, Jordan glances between Kirk and Mikey. His question was harmless enough, but I can feel Mikey’s tension—his frustration—about having to even be around his father, let alone having to discuss his life with him.
“It’s fine,” Mikey says, his words cutting through the air like knives.
“You enjoying your job out there?”
“Yes.”
Kirk takes a breath, as though he’s realized he’s not getting anywhere with Mikey. “Mikey, I figured we might be able to have a conversation, considering how long it’s been since we’ve talked.”
“I think you know I’m not interested in having a conversation.”
Kirk tenses his jaw. “Is it so wrong that I want to talk to my son about his life in my own home?”
I can tell he’s irritated with Mikey—almost like he doesn’t get why his son is still so mad at him after all these years.
“Dad,” Kate warns, her tone severe.
“What? I just want to have a conversation with my kid who I haven’t seen in God knows how long.”
Dara chimes in with, “He’s just asking him about his job.”
“Always so eager to defend him, aren’t you?” Mikey asks.
Kirk and Dara are acting oblivious, like they can’t possibly understand why Mikey is lashing out like this, but they must understand that what they did to him when he was a kid is the whole reason why he’s so estranged from them.
“Mikey, don’t be like this, please,” Dara says.
I set my hand on Mikey’s leg. I don’t even know why I do it. I guess I want him to know that he’s not on his own right now. That at least, even if I can’t say anything because it’s none of my business, I’m on his side.
“I’m not doing anything,” Mikey says, taking another breath.
“You all have fun with this,” Kate says, pushing to her feet. “I’m going to take Roger upstairs until you can all work this out of your system.”
“You don’t have to do that because Mikey’s acting this way,” Kirk says.
“I just don’t want to be in the middle of this. I’m taking Roger upstairs to let you boys figure this out.”
She lifts him from his high chair and heads off.
“You couldn’t let us have one quiet dinner together as a family?” Kirk asks. Mikey sets his fork down. “And you’re not going to eat this nice meal your mother spent all this time preparing now?”
“I’m not hungry.”
