Page 66 of Agony of Our Regret

Gavin finally smiled. “You’re right. That’s a win.”

My phone rang in our bedroom, so I hopped up and hurried to grab it. Vince’s number showed on the screen.

“Hello?” I answered.

“Hey, babe.”

“Hi.” I glanced at the clock. It was nearly eight, and I was running late getting ready for work.

“I wanted to let you know I’m heading out of town.”

My stomach dropped. He was leaving? “You are?”

“Yeah, I was talking to Gwen the other night, and she was telling me about the school you guys are working on and the renovations that need to be done. I have construction experience, so I called Daniel. He and I are going to visit the school and see where I can help.”

Oh. He wasn’t running away. He was going to help. With the school. Built by the Society?

“You’re comfortable doing that?”

He hesitated. “Working for the Society?”

“Yeah, I never thought that would happen.”

He let out a long sigh. “I hate feeling useless more than I hate what they did, and I’m letting go of that anger gradually, too. Gavin and you all were right. Plus, this school is important to you. I want to help, and this is one of the few things I can actually do.”

I was momentarily proud of his self-discovery until he fell back into talking down on himself.

“You can do so much more, but I appreciate you wanting to step in. I’m sure Gwen could use the help.”

“Yeah, and Daniel has some ideas he wants to talk through before discussing them with the contractors on site.”

“Very cool. When are you coming back?” I hated how desperate I sounded.

“Saturday morning. We’ll see how much we can get done while we’re there and possibly go back next week too.”

He sounded so happy. Enthusiastic.

“I’ll still speak to my therapist while I’m there. I have two video calls scheduled.”

Wow. He was doing it. Putting in the work.

“That sounds great.”

“Yeah, so I’m packing now, and we fly out this afternoon. I wanted to let you know, so you didn’t think I wasleaving.Leaving,” he chuckled, and I laughed with him.

“Thank you.” Calling and letting me know what he was doing. That was new and a big step for him. “And thank you for wanting to help too. The sooner the school is done, the sooner students will have somewhere safe to go.”

“Rather than being split up.” Vince paused. “When Gwen told me that’s what’s still happening, I decided I had to do something to help them.”

“Yeah, that’s how I felt.”

Being forced to leave the farm in South Dakota and getting split up was the beginning of the end, and I hated thinking about how many other teenagers were going through similar things now.

“Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I’ll be gone for a few days.”

I grinned. “But you’re coming back.”

“I’m coming back,” he promised.

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