Dad is sitting on the sofa when we get to the sitting room. I sit in the armchair, with Emory and Casey perching on either arm, their arms around my shoulders. Dad stares at us for what feels like an eternity. What is he looking for? Proof that we’re in love? Is he deciding how he feels about our relationship?
Eventually, he leans forward onto his knees. “Thank you.”
Okay, that wasn’t what I was expecting him to say.
“You’ve been supporting August while I haven’t.”
“Umm, thanks,” Emory says.
“This is a shock. I can’t say I understand it, but I don’t have to. If August and I had a better relationship, I’d have known about yours sooner. We’re not close.”
“We know.”
“But you could be if you wanted to be,” Casey says.
Fuck, I love him.
“How?” Dad asks.
Casey jerks his head back. “Um. Talk to him. Get to know him. Apologise for bullying him and then stop doing it.”
I put my hand on Casey’s knee. He has more balls than I do.
“Talk to him. Apologise,” Dad repeats.
Shit. Is he actually listening to Casey?
He looks me in the eyes. “I’m sorry for being such a lousy father for the last twenty years. I can’t promise to change overnight, but I will attempt to listen to you and get to know you better.”
“What about my boyfriends? Can you accept them and get to know them better too?”
He stiffens but nods a few seconds later.
“No more threats?”
He shakes his head.
“In which case, I’ll promise to do my best in my degree.”
“I can’t ask for more than that.”
No, he can’t.
“It’s going to take time to build a relationship. It will be wobbly at first,” he says.
“I know. If you want to make things better, calling me Auggie would be a big help.”
He sighs. “Your name is August.”
“Yes, but I prefer Auggie.”
“Fine. I’ll do my best to call you Auggie.”
It’s strange hearing him say it, but also nice.
“Anything else?”
“It would be great if you and Mum could come and visit. Together. I could cook for you. You could get to know me, Emory, and Casey better.”
