Page 91 of Awakening the Sheriff

“You’re sixteen, right?” he asked Byron.

“Yes, sir.”

“Then it’s about time you learned how to drive, son. You up for that?”

Byron looked at me with wide eyes. “Can I, Dad? Is that okay?”

“You’re ready now. I trust you’ll handle this responsibility well.”

“Yes, Dad.” His smile spread across his face, and then he was hugging me, holding me tightly. “Thank you, Dad. For everything.”

Sweet victory. “I love you, buddy. Have fun with Grandpa Frant.”

He let go of me and peered shyly at Auden’s father. “Is it okay if we call you Grandpa and Grandma? It was Milton’s idea.”

Auden’s father cleared his throat. “I’d be honored, son.”

After a hug for Milton, who was already chatting away with Cora, I got into the truck, and we took off for Seattle.

We said little during the journey, our minds too occupied with a mix of anticipation and dread. One last hurdle, and then it would all be over.Please let me be right.

As we pulled up, Mandy was standing in front of the window. In seconds, her expression darkened.

“Where are the kids?” she demanded as soon as she opened the door.

“They’re not coming,” I replied, my voice shaking slightly. “But I need to talk to you. This is Auden. My Auden.”

Auden held out his hand, and Mandy took it, barely looking at him.

“Can we come in?” I asked.

She let us in, and we sat down in the living room.

She crossed her arms. “Why are the kids not here?”

I struggled to find my words, the fear of confronting her nearly choking me. But Auden’s steady gaze gave me strength. He wouldn’t let things get out of hand.

“Look, Mandy, we need to talk about your lies and how they’ve affected our sons.”

She narrowed her eyes but said nothing.

“Byron told me everything about Troy and what you did.”

Her face paled, and she opened her mouth, but I cut her off. “No, don’t speak. Just listen. I’ve found out about all the lies you’ve been telling… About our marriage, our divorce, my sexuality, and how you tried to turn Byron against me.”

As I laid out the truth, my anger and determination grew, fueled by my love for my boys. Mandy’s eyes flashed, but she remained silent. “But the thing that hurts me the most is how you poisoned his mind against his own sexuality. You knew he had to be gay or bi, yet you filled his head with hatred and shame.”

I paused, struggling to keep my emotions in check. “Because of you, he attacked another kid, despised me, and even hated himself. We could’ve lost him, Mandy. Your words could have driven him to do something terrible.”

“Is this it, then?” she asked. “Will I never see the kids again?”

“Right now, neither of them wants to see you. Byron because of the pain you caused him, and Milton because he’s afraid you’ll do the same to him.”

She scoffed. “You probably made them stay home. It wasn’t their choice.”

“I didn’t, but even if I had, after everything you’ve done, you wouldn’t have much ground to stand on. I don’t know when or if they’ll want to spend time with you again.”

Her expression changed, the defiant anger replaced by sadness. “I never meant for this to happen, Keaton. It all got out of hand.”

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