“Clinton thinks you are the answer to bridging the gap, that you’ll do great things for our community. It’s why he invited you to the town hall. I called bullshit, and while I meant what I said, now I wonder ...”
“Feel free to maintain your prior opinions about me.”
“Then I owe you a favor.”
Hiram doubts he’ll collect. “Deal.”
Clinton turns to the sound of their voices. “Ah, excellent work, Mr. Ellis. That only took six hours.”
Hiram makes a face, but Clinton can’t even see his expression. “You’re joking, right?”
Khadijah rolls her eyes. “My uncle’s sense of humor is baroque, at best. What he means is he’s gracious.”
“That I am.”
Hiram is ready to go. “Whatever, it’s—” His phone starts buzzing repeatedly. He glances at the screen and his heart crashes. Message after message from Peter. They begin shortly after four o’clock and become increasingly urgent as time passes. He fires a message back saying he’s on the way.
He’s late.
Without bothering to excuse himself, Hiram runs to his car, breaking several traffic laws as he races across town to Weston Academy. He calls Peter back five times, but there’s no answer. It’s nearly seven, and the school is dark except for a single light next to the front door. Hiram leaves the car running and knocks on the door, then pounds on it when there’s no immediate answer.
Veda pushes the door open. In his hazy panic, he doesn’t notice how furious she looks.
“You’re late.” Her voice is arctic. Unsettling. Her eyes are red like she’s been crying.
“I was—”
“Save it. I don’t want to hear your excuses.” A dry laugh escapes and she shakes her head. “I can’t believe I nearly fell for your good-father, I’ll-be-here-more-often act. Utter bullshit.”
“Where is he?”
“Asleep. But not before having a panic attack because the only parent he has leftforgothim.”
Hiram is stunned into silence, his guilt louder than Veda’s fury. “It was an accident.”
“An accident is mixing up salt and sugar. This was irresponsible.”
“Irresponsible?” Hiram scoffs. Furious with himself, he can’t help but lash out. “Theonlything irresponsible is the fact that you’re still around children despite having a serial killer after you.”
“The only thing irresponsible?” Veda recoils as if slapped. “Seriously? When your mother isright there? Yes, that makesperfectsense.”
“You care a lot about a child that isn’t yours.” It’s another comment that’s been lying low in his subconscious. It’s out now. He can’t take it back, even if he wants to, even if he hates the way her expression changes.
“You think Iwantto care about him when I don’t know the minute this curse will wake up?” Veda scrubs her face. “You think I want that for him? To be someone else who leaves him? No. I’d rather fight the Botanist myself if it guarantees he won’t be forgotten by another person. I know he’s not mine. I amcompletelyaware of this. Theonlyreason I’m even here is because I saw a little boy who was hurting and grieving. You don’t know what it’s like to lose someone you love in an instant. I’ve beenexactlywhere he is. Lost. Grieving.Drowning. And Irefusedto leave him to struggle alone.”
Her words are raw and honest, and he can’t face them without feeling like a complete asshole. “Congratulations, you’re a decent person. I’m glad you don’t treat him like you do me.”
“He’snotlike you or your family.”
“He’s my son,” Hiram snaps. “I didn’t raise him, but he’s a reflection of me, whether you like it or not.”
Veda scoffs, but her demeanor cracks.
“I was late because—”
“I don’t care,” she fires back, hot tears running down her cheeks. “I’m so fuckingdisappointedin you. I thought—you know what, fuck it, I’m done.”
She pushes past him, but instinctively he throws a hand out, stopping her. “Look—”
