“You did fine,” Laurence said. “We didn’t exactly have a contingencyplan.”
“He doesn’t hateme?”
“No. He’ll come around. The fact that he was talking to you at all is a good sign, and that he stuck around the table for as long as he did means that he’s interested in getting to know you.” Laurence managed a small, reassuring smile. “All of our lives are in transition right now. It’s going to take some time for us to find a new normal and settle into routine. I don’t think you have anything to worry about. I’m going to talk to him privately later tonight about what went on to make sure that he feelsheard.”
“Should I dial back on being me?” Alex frowned. “I considered being boring for a second, but that didn’t feel right. I don’t want him to think I’m someone I’mnot.”
“You did fine. Matthew’s a teenager—he’s moody at the best of times. I have a feeling that once the dust settles and we adjust to each other, we’re not going to have a problem.” Laurence reached across the table and squeezed Alex’s hand. “It’s going to beokay.”
“You say that now.” Alex raised an eyebrow as his eyes flashed with confidence. “But we haven’t had The Talk with my parentsyet.”
“And that will be okay, too,” Laurence said, even though he was dreading it. “We’re not hiding anything. We have nothing to worryabout.”
“Youhave nothing to worry about.” Alex grinned. “I’ve got to worry about her giving me the side-eye for the rest of mylife.”
“She’ll comearound.”
“One day.” Alex took his hand from beneath Laurence’s so he could cover his mouth while he yawned. “But I think, for the next little while, I’m going to be inshit.”
“She might surpriseyou.”
“Yeah. Bymurderingme.” Alex laughed, then shook his head. “I guess we won’t know until we sit down with them this weekend, willwe?”
“Nope, wewon’t.”
“Then there’s no point in worrying.” Alex craned his neck from side to side, then stretched his arms over his head. “I think I’ve done enough worrying to last me the rest of my life. If she hates me, she hates me. I’ll manage. I’m going to make sure that whatever happens, she doesn’t hateyou.”
“You don’t need to do that,” Laurence said softly. “You have your own battles tofight.”
“Mm, but fightingyourbattles sounds easier.” Alex winked. “I need to take responsibility for this and face them on my own. It’ll be okay. You’ll come along and be on standby. That’s all I need. What are you up to this morning, by theway?”
Laurence checked the time on the stove. “I’m heading to work in the next halfhour.”
“A half hour sounds like it’ll be just enoughtime.”
“For what?” Laurence turned to face Alex just in time to see Alex slip his arms around his neck and pull himselfclose.
Alex’s lips brushed against his earlobe. “Forme.”
30
Alex
Early on a Saturday morning,well before any human being should have been awake, Alex tucked his hands into his back pockets and stared down the front door of the house he’d grown up in. The cherry wood French door was the same as he remembered it, its glass panels intricate, yet sophisticated. As a child, he’d traced the came strips with his finger, enchanted by the design. His fingers still knew the way, but his childish wonder was long gone. The door that had once captured his imagination was now the last barrier between himself and the confrontation he didn’t want tohave.
Alex’s hand hesitated. He squeezed his eyes shut, pulled himself together, and rang thedoorbell.
There were footsteps from inside the house. The lock clicked and the door opened. His mother, Samantha, stood in the doorway, looking like she’d been awake and functional for hours. Her hair was pulled back and twisted into a bun, and her natural makeup was flawless, as usual. The blouse she wore had been carefully selected to complement her slacks—even on the weekends, she dressed in businesscasual.
Alex straightened his posture a little. “Hi, Mom. It’s good to seeyou.”
A smile grew on Samantha’s face. She stepped onto the stoop and swept Alex into her arms. He rested his head against her shoulder and did his best to remember this moment—he knew it was the last hug he’d get for a while. “It’s good to see you, too, Alex. Your mom and I have missedyou.”
“I’m sorry.” Alex squeezed her tight, then broke away from the hug. “I should do a better job of coming back to visit. I miss you guys,too.”
“Mm.” Samantha raised an eyebrow—a gesture Alex was all too familiar with. “I’m assuming it must beserious.”
Alex’s shoulder blades pinched together. “What?”
