“I don’t know, but I just think you two need to consider that it could be him,” I say. “ Gavin, who has access to that room?”
“The three of us, head of maintenance, and Dad.”
My eyes widen in a “told you so” way.
“I’m going to say this once, Dutton, but if you really want to be the one who runs this place, you need to fix whatever is going on with Dad,” he says.
I let out a sarcastic huff of a laugh.
“I agree with Gavin.” Grace sighs. “As much as I want this place, I’d be happier if this thing between you and Dad didn’t exist.”
“I hear you,” I say and wake up my computer. “But it’s not going to happen.”
“Why not?” Grace pushes.
“Because it won’t.”
“You’re not even going to try?” Gavin asks.
“I did once. It didn’t work.”
“You did?” Grace asks, her tone switching from encouraging to sadness like a light switch. “When?”
“When it started,” I say and then sigh. “Look, I just … maybe we can change the lock on the door and give everyone a different code. Then, when things break, we can look back to see who was the last person in that room.”
It’s about the only idea I can think of. For their sake, I hope it’s not Henry, but something tells me it is.
I just have no idea what he’d be trying to accomplish with fucking up the temperature every single day.
“That’s not the worst idea,” Grace says.
Gavin nods. “All right. I’ll get it going, but what happens when it’s not Dad?”
“Then it’s not and I was wrong.”
“Okay,” Gavin replies, as if he’s tired of this conversation.
He leaves, and Grace turns to follow.
I don’t have to look away from my computer to know she’s lingering in the doorway.
She has more to say.
But by the time I look up, she's gone.
Fuck.
I lean back in my seat.
The last thing I want to do is fight with my siblings. Especially over Henry.
I reach for my phone to text them an apology, but my phone lights up with a text from my mother in the family group chat, which we rarely use unless it’s something that requires the attention of our entire family.
Mom
Wren will be home in two weeks to celebrate her birthday. I’d like for us all to be available that Saturday night. Please keep your schedule open.
This text isn’t for me or Gavin or Grace. It’s for her husband. Only I’m the only one who knows that.
