Page 2 of Collin: Episodes 10-12
“Mom! Seriously. It’s not even a major offered at my school. Anyway, who died? I thought we were supposed to be happy we finally got to see each other again?”
Dr. Ryker’s lips thinned. “No one died.”
Tension crawled up Collin’s already tight spine. Mom was in one of her moods. There was no denying it anymore. What had set her off, he wasn’t sure. And until she was done with it, nothing would get her out of it. He should have just called the family dinner off entirely. Now Mr. Reevesworth was having to sit through this with him and Alice. He dug his fingernails into his leg. The urge to scratch a red, hot set of lines up his arm was almost all consuming. Perhaps he could get away to the bathroom for a moment.
Alice couldn’t leave well enough alone. She crossed her arms and turned sideways toward their mother. “This is not what I came home for, Mom. So, either talk about it or stop getting mad when I want to be happy.”
Dr. Ryker’s eyes narrowed. “Alice, we have company.”
“Mr. Reevesworth is hardly company. He’s Collin’s. And anyone can see you’re not happy. He’s not blind, Mom. Sorry, Mr. Reevesworth, I know you’re sitting right there and third person is rude.”
“I’m not sure how you could have grammatically said anything else.” Mr. Reevesworth saluted Alice with his water glass. He turned to Collin. Under the table, his hand slid up Collin’s leg, pressing down and grasping Collin’s thigh. Collin squeezed his hand back.
Dr. Ryker sighed. “I want you safe, Alice, and employed, not dancing for pennies. Is that such a terrible thing to ask?”
“Human resources is a very safe major.” Alice rolled her eyes.
Dr. Ryker shot her a look. “If you finish.”
Out, I want out. One word to his dom and he’d be out, but he’d also lose. This wasn’t a scene. This was his family.
He swallowed and squeezed Mr. Reevesworth’s hand, then let go, and turned to his mother. “It’s going to be a bit before the food arrives, but we’re right by the wharf. I want to pick up some of those candied pretzels I used to get as a kid.”
Dr. Ryker’s face softened. “You remember that?”
Collin nodded and stood. “Sir, I’ll take Lando with me. Is that okay?”
Mr. Reevesworth glanced over to the two men on security detail with them and nodded. “Of course.” He pulled out his wallet and handed Collin a rolled-up fifty. “Get some extra for Damian, please.”
“I was planning on it.” Collin shot his dom a smile and held out his arm to his mother.
She blinked and then slid her hand through the bend of his elbow and let him lead the way out off the rooftop and down to the street. The wharf was right there, but the old-time snack shop was positioned in the viewing area at the end. There were lights strung up along the way, and the fresh sea air was stronger here away from the scents of the restaurant and the fall charcoal burners spread among the tables for warmth.
They walked halfway down the wharf before Collin lowered his arm and leaned over the side, looking into the dark water.
“I think I did something, but I don’t know what it is,” he said softly, eyes on the water.
His mom leaned against the railing beside him, tense and quiet. At least she wasn’t moving away.
“I know I’ve made some difficult decisions lately. And I know I’m asking a lot, that you be okay with Mr. Reevesworth…”
“It’s not that.” Her voice was tight. In his peripheral vision, he saw her grip the wood until the tips of her fingers turned white. She rocked back and forth and settled with her forearms on the rail.
“Can you tell me, then? I don’t like fighting, Mom. I’m not even sure we are. I just know I came home, and then…you’re not happy.”
“Why did you buy a new shower curtain?”
“Um…” Collin tugged at the hair on the back of his head. “It was old. They get moldy. You’re supposed to replace them every few months?”
“Yeah, so, it’s my house.”
Collin frowned. He glanced toward his mother. She was staring straight ahead at the water. “I’ve always done stuff around the house.”
“Well, this time felt different. You didn’t ask.”
Collin pulled on his hair again, then rubbed his face. But no more explanation was coming. He swallowed. “I don’t understand. I’ve bought stuff before.”
“You think you’re better than us now?”
