Page 129 of Hits Different

She nods. “I see”.

Something’s pulling at me. A little voice, telling me that I know what I want to do. But I couldn’t do it. Could I? “But things are going well at Summit. Brandon’s going back to college in a few weeks”.

“It sounds like you have some decisions to make”. My mom puts her hand on mine. “If today has taught me anything, it’s that I can be confident in the young man that I raised. That he knows how to take care of himself, and how to do the right thing, even when it’s hard. It’s more than I could have ever hoped for”.

There’s a lump in my throat. “I love you, mom”.

“I love you too, Parker”.

She produces a tissue from up her sleeve, in the way that all moms do. “I want to be able to show my face in this graveyard again. No more crying. Why don’t you tell me about Brandon? I want to hear everything”.

“You already know him”.I smile. “He practically lived at our house until we were eighteen”.

“I know him as your friend. Your friend who used to leave his backpack in our hallway and never stopped eating. I don’t know him as your boyfriend”. She says it so easily, like it’s simple. “As your person. Is he good to you?”

“The best. And he still never stops eating. You should hear his coffee order”.

She sits down on the grass, next to dad’s headstone, and gestures for me to join them. It’s been years, since it was just the three of us. I park it, sitting between my mom and dad. “Well”, my mom smiles. “Tell us about him”.

Chapter 48

Standing Up in the Deep End

Brandon

“You don’t have to do this”, Dad says, as he gets mic’d up. “I love you for it,but I can stand by myself up there. You’re my kid. I don’t feel right about putting you in the firing line”.

Lighting in the Senator’s chambers is questionable at the best of times, but I look the part, and oddly enough, I feel the part too. There are lots of different parts of me that are worth embracing. Being a member of my family is one of them.

“I’ll be firing line-adjacent”, I reassure him. His tie is lopsided, and I straighten it. “Besides, the good townspeople have been deprived of my presence for a couple of years now”.

“They’re not so much good townspeople as they are bloodthirsty reporters but sure, make this all about you”. He’s got the same grin as me, I realise, catching sight of it in the mirror. “Don’t count on too many friendly faces out there”.

When my dad had surprised me at Summit, we had gone for a walk and had a long talk. A really long talk. Mostly he had apologised. Over and over. I didn’t let him off the hook, but we did agree to start again.

Plus, he gave me the money to cover the rest of Volchok’s medical bills. Dmitry and I are never going to be friends, but I’ll sleep better with my conscience off the hook. Hopefully he will too.

“Parker will be there”.

“Did he say he was coming?”

“Nope”, I toss him a grin, “He doesn’t have to”.

“I’m happy for you, kiddo”, he pulls me into a bear hug. When we break apart, there’s a look of apprehension etched over his face. “Listen, there’s something I need to tell you. Before it breaks online. It’s about your mother and I”.

Oh God. One thing that my dad and I haven’t yet discussed is my relationship with my mother. I’m in no rush to open that door. “We’re getting divorced”.

There’s a whooshing noise in my ear. My dad’s been hopelessly in love with my mom since they were teenagers. No matter how badly she treated him. “Are you okay?” he peers at me anxiously, “I didn’t mean to drop it on you. I just don’t know what they’re going to say out there”.

“When”, I find myself asking, “Did you find out?”

“Oh, it was me who filed, actually”. When I don’t respond, he continues. “I know your relationship with your mother is complicated. Are you upset?”

I shake my head, and he presses his forehead to mine, just like when I was a little kid. “Really?”

“I’m kind of proud. I think it’s best for both of you. For all of us, actually”. His face breaks in relief, before a brief knock on his office door gives way to an aide poking his head around. “They’re ready for you, Senator”.

* * * *

---