I frown as I watch Keaton lean down and into Savannah’s personal space while saying something to her. Whereas a moment ago he appeared unhappy, now his features have softened, and he looks to be saying something thoughtful to her.
“Mum! Are you listening to me?” Aurora demands.
“Yes. Sorry.” I sigh. “Dad’s finding this hard, Aurora.”
“Finding what hard?”
“You leaving home. I need you to help him through the transition period and come to dinner like he wants you to.”
“Wait.Hesaidyou’remissing me. Is this all about him?”
“Well, I am missing you. That’s very true. But he is too. And I know you think of your father as a strong, fierce man who never stumbles or struggles with anything, but he does at times. Seeing you once a week for dinner is important to him and I want you to make it a priority.”
Aurora turns silent and my thoughts drift back to Keaton and Savannah. She’s been quiet throughout this shopping trip. If I had to pick her mood, I’d say she seems sad. Madison still doesn’t know how she got that black eye.
“You’re not listening to me, are you?” Aurora says.
I frown as Savannah begins crying, dropping her gaze to the floor, and inspiring Keaton to tip her chin up to bring her eyes back to his. I frown some more when he wipes her tears away.
“What’s going on with Keaton and Savannah?” I ask Aurora.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Is something going on with them?” God knows I’ll need to be prepared for it if there is. Keaton’s two years older than Savannah, and I’m almost certain her parents would not be happy for their daughter to be involved with an older guy. Especially since Savannah hasn’t shown any real interest in boys until recently.
“Not that I know of.” She pauses before adding, “I’m pretty sure Keaton’s still hung up on Thea.”
I’m not convinced of that. Thea broke up with him four months ago and he hasn’t mentioned her for a couple of months now. He also wasn’t happy about being cheated on. I don’t think he’ll ever date her again. Loyalty is everything to my son.
“Well, I’m watching them right now, and they seem very close. Maybe you could ask him about her.”
Aurora groans. “You do know Keaton’s seventeen, right? Like, he’s not my baby brother who follows me around everywhere anymore. He stopped telling me stuff about two years ago.”
“Could you try? For me?”
She groans again. “If you talk to Dad about this dinner thing, I’ll talk to Keaton about Savannah.”
“Okay.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“I’ve gotta go. I’ll call Keaton this afternoon and let you know tonight. And you’ll let me know how you go with Dad.”
I agree and we end the call as I think about the conversation I need to have with Scott. He can’t threaten Aurora with sending a club member every time she doesn’t do what he wants her to do. However, I already know how this conversation will go down. Nineteen years of being with this man tells me I have a very low chance at success here.
Scott’s POV
3:30 p.m.
I arrive hometo find my son punching the fuck out of his punching bag in the home gym we’ve set up in the shed. It’s not unusual to find Keaton out here, but it’s unusual to find him hitting it so hard.
I watch him for a few moments before asking, “Who pissed you off?”
He doesn’t respond. Instead, his fists keep pounding the bag.
“I asked you a question, Keaton.”
