Page 22 of Ten Years Later
“Oh.” Sharon surveyed her purse again.
He stepped past her. “I’m going to get back to work.”
When he got to the other side of the studio where two kids finished their project, he glanced over to see Sharon now standing at the front counter, studying him.
That night Keaton arrived at Cora and Leo’s townhouse.
Zane let him in. “Hey, everyone’s already out on the lanai.”
Zane led the way, and Keaton followed him into the kitchen where a buffet of southern food covered the island. Zane left him to it as he went out to join everyone sitting in the climate-controlled lanai, already eating. Their voices filtered through the tempered glass.
Despite the fact Keaton absolutely did not want to be there, the savory smelling food made his stomach growl. He helped himself to ice tea from the refrigerator and a large piece of fried chicken. He stood in the kitchen eating and drinking. One by one each person turned to look—his mom, Cora, Leo, Cora’s father, Zane, and even little Benjamin.
Keaton waited to see which family member would chastise him first about his bad manners. He wondered if they woulddraw straws. He wondered how long he had to stand there until Cora gave him the money.
It shocked the hell out of him when Leo stood up and came through the sliding glass door and into the kitchen.
“Hey,” Leo said.
“Hey back.”
“Thanks for coming. It means a lot to Cora. Her mom wanted this. It was one of her last requests—that everyone have a meal together.”
“I highly doubt she meant me.”
“She did mean you.” Leo leaned against the sink, crossing his ankles and staring idly at the food. “She, um, specifically said she wanted us to mend fences.”
Keaton finished his piece of chicken and tossed the bones into the garbage.
“She wanted the whole family to see each other more, like we used to,” Leo said.
Keaton drank ice tea.
Leo said, “This whole thing is for you, really. Did you know that?”
Keaton put his glass down a little too forcefully.
“Will you come out onto the lanai? We were hoping to talk to you.”
“About what? My daughter who I have seen and yet no one believes me?” Keaton’s gaze tracked across everyone on the lanai, trying to act like they weren’t listening and watching. He barked a laugh. “Is this an intervention?”
Leo sighed.
More than anything Keaton wanted to storm out, but he needed the money, and also, he liked that he made them uncomfortable. Good, he thought, be uncomfortable. Because everyone who claimed to love Vivian had gotten a little too settled with her supposed death.
“I’m sorry,” Leo quietly said. “All these years and I’ve never told you that.”
“Sorry for what? Being my best friend and stealing my wife? Taking my mother-in-law’s side when she blamed me? Having the audacity to give me the side-eye every time we see each other like we’re strangers? We used to smell each other’s farts, for God’s sake!”
Shame flushed through Leo’s face.
“We all lost Vivian that day,” he said. “It’s time to remember her for the special and sweet girl she was. It’s time to move on.” He pulled a bank envelope from his back pocket and placed it on the kitchen island next to a bowl of macaroni and cheese. “It’s the money you asked Cora for. You don’t need to pay it back.”
Keaton grabbed the envelope and left.
The following day he met Tessa Gray in the parking lot of a gas station. He handed over the money, the toilet paper filled with Emily’s hair, and did a cheek swab for the paternity test.
She told him three business days. Being Sunday, that meant mid-week.
