An hour passed, and Peter was still standing in the exact same position. Chad could just be waiting for his bag, he reasoned, but having flown first class his bags should have been among the first on the conveyer belt.
He called David, asking him to see if there had been a problem on the flight. A minute later, David called him back with the news that the ticket had been canceled when Chad failed to board the final plane.
“Find out where he is,” Peter demanded, practically growling. He took a deep breath, furious with Chad for acting out like this. They had a difficult conversation ahead, but running away wasn’t going to do anything but make things worse.
***
Chapter 31
“Do you want to talk about it?” Chad’s dad asked as they drove home from the airport. Chad had called him from London with his flight information, and though his dad had been surprised, he hadn’t asked any questions.
When he walked out of arrivals, his dad’s eye had been drawn to the bite still healing on his neck, but he hadn’t said anything then either.
Chad appreciated being able to talk in his own time.
“They ordered me to do something I couldn’t do and Peter had them send me home.”
“He sent you here?” his dad asked, shooting him a dubious look. Chad shrugged.
“No. I just don’t want to see him right now.”
They were silent for most of the rest of the trip, but when they were almost home his dad spoke.
“Are you going to get in more trouble for coming here?”
He sounded worried.
“I don’t know. He’s already mad at me, so I don’t think it matters.”
“That’s not really how it works, son. But I won’t get involved. Your mother and I are here for you no matter what.”
Chad nodded, a lump in his throat. He wondered how everything could get so fucked up so fast.
When they got home, his mother greeted him at the door with a hug. She pulled him inside and asked him if he wanted something to eat.
“I’d kind of just like to go to sleep,” Chad said.
“That’s okay,” his mother said. “Your bed is made up and ready, and there’s a towel on the bathroom counter if you want to shower. Whatever you need.”
Chad hugged her again. “Thanks, Mom.”
His dad came inside, and his mother tilted her head curiously. “Chad, where’s your bag?”
Chad shrugged sheepishly. “In London, I think. I sort of skipped out on my last flight and my bag was checked through all the way home. I’ll call the airline tomorrow.”
“Well, I’m sure it will all work out.”
Chad nodded, and after another hug headed up to his room to sleep. He was exhausted, emotionally and physically, and all he wanted was to close his eyes and forget that today ever happened.
***
Chapter 32
Once Peter knew that Chad had headed home to his parents, he booked a flight and drove to the airport.
He spent the whole flight imagining what he was going to do when he saw Chad—his ideas ranging from begging for forgiveness to sitting on him until he agreed to be good.
By the time he picked up his rental car and drove to the modest two-story house where Chad had grown up, he still hadn’t decided what he was going to do.
