Page 103 of Peach Tree Family

Chapter 26

Seth knew that tonight Theo wouldn't be sharing his bed. Ace needed him, so he was sure to spend the night in their room, though Seth doubted he would sleep much.

That meant Seth would need to talk to him before he went off to bed. He was dreading what he had to do and telling Theo about it, but it had to be done.

Theo was smart, prepared, always thinking and planning. In so many ways, Theo was ahead of the game, but that might not be enough to keep him and Ace safe if the law got involved.

That's why Seth had done his own thinking. He stopped Theo in the kitchen and told him, "I'll need to move out again, so I won't cause trouble for you and Ace."

"What?" Theo said a little too loudly. Then he lowered his voice. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Ace belongs with you, and I can't get in the way of that." Seth had decided. He knew that's how it had to be, but he wanted to be touching Theo and kissing him, not telling him he had to leave. "I told you about my troubles back in Waterfield. The sheriff could never bring charges against me, but he took me in a bunch of times. Having someone like me living with you is gonna make you look bad. You know I'm right."

"No, I don't. I can't believe you're saying this."

Seth was surprised to hear him deny it, but that didn't mean he was wrong. "Theo, I'm bad news."

"Don't say that, damn it," Theo said under his breath.

"I am if you go to court. I only want to help you and protect you. I know what it's like to lose family." Seth then had to ask something. "Do you think Ace will understand?"

"No," Theo told him bluntly. Then he softened his voice. "I'll try my best to make him understand."

In the morning, Seth waited out on the porch while Theo sat down with Ace to tell him he was moving out again. Seth already had his bag with all his stuff in the truck. Seeing that old, taped up bag reminded him of what his life used to be, when all he knew was how to limp away like a kicked dog.

It hurt to leave, and it hurt to have Theo mad at him. But Ace being taken away from Theo would be much worse.

And it happened right when things were going so good, with Theo in his bed most nights even if he did leave at the crack of dawn. It had still been sweet to sleep next to him and hold him and everything else they did.

When Theo and Ace came out, Seth felt his chest get tight. Ace had his book bag on and his head down, but then he ran over to Seth and hugged him hard. Without letting go, he frowned up at Seth, "You're always leaving us."

"No. It's just for a little while," Seth told him.

"Did Aunt Cindy make you leave?" Ace asked, but it looked to Seth like he had already made up his mind. Seth still looked over at Theo.

"Once she's gone, things will get back to normal," Theo said. "Now let's go before we're late for work and for school."

Alone in the truck with Theo after they dropped off Ace, Seth wanted to say something. He almost said that it would all turn out all right. But who would he be reassuring, Theo or himself?

There were other things he wanted to say but didn't dare, not when Theo looked so grim.

He was still mad about Seth leaving. Seth took it as a sign that Theo wanted him around, but he wasn't any good to him and Ace right now.

They parked on the far side of the inn parking lot, but before going inside, Seth got out the house key on that Peach Tree keychain that Theo had given him. "You should have this." As he offered Theo the key back he paused closing his fist around it. "I... Can I keep the keychain?"

"You can keep them both," Theo told him and pushed his hand away then looked down. "I'm pissed at you. Don't think I'm not, but you still live with us as far as I'm concerned."

Seth only stared at him. A catch in his throat wouldn't let him speak so he just nodded.

***

With Dustin looking over his shoulder, Theo was doing some checking after a customer had trouble making a reservation online. He wanted to make sure there wasn't a problem with the inn website. From what he could tell, the issue was on the other end.

"I'm writing up a report on that. I think the feedback could be clearer when a reservation doesn't go through," Theo told him since technically Dustin was supposed to be supervising him.

"A report for a little glitch like that? Going after some extra credit. Have at it. Better you than me," Dustin said.

Maybe he had a point about that. Theo was probably trying too hard to prove himself to Andy and Leo. He was also making more work for himself when he had so many things on his mind. The lawyer Julian hired for him was already working on trying to keep Theo out of jail and get him custody of Ace. She had advised Theo not to sell the house, but Theo didn't see how else he would keep Aunt Cindy from ruining everything.

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