Page 71 of The Same Flesh
“Because theyaregross, babe,” Jem said.That apparently concluded the conversation because he bounded up from the bed with surprising agility for someone who, the weekend before, had a bad case of thehash brown sleepies, which was apparently what happened when you ate three hash browns for breakfast and then couldn’t go downstairs to start the laundry.As he pushed his way out of the bedroom, he was already calling, “If you ate all my chips, Scipio is going to tackle you.”
“There were two squirrels right on the porch,” Daniel shouted back, “and Scipio didn’t even wake up.”
“How dare you!You take that back right now!”
By the time Tean got out to the front room, Daniel was giggling about something Jem had said and, simultaneously, trying to get the bag of chips back from Jem.
“Daniel,” Tean said, “you’re going to stay here tonight.”
Immediately, Daniel’s laughter cut off, and his face became a wary mask.
“We’re going to stick to our usual schedule.We’re going to Rainbow House.But then we’ll come back here.”
“And tomorrow, you’re going to talk to your dad,” Jem said.
Daniel was already shaking his head.
“He’s not happy with what happened today,” Tean said.“I understand that you didn’t like him going into your room without knocking, and I understand that you’re upset because he doesn’t want you wearing makeup.At the same time, you knew what the rules were, and you chose to do it anyway, even though you knew what would happen.And I’m going to guess that you had your own part in escalating that situation with your dad.”
To judge by the color rising in Daniel’s cheeks, that one landed.
“Adults don’t run away from their problems,” Tean said.“They don’t steal cars.If you really can’t work this out with your parents, we can talk about other solutions.But the first step is to talk to him, and to apologize—”
Daniel looked so miserable he actually got smaller.
“—and to communicate about this.”
When Daniel turned a look on Jem, clearly looking for help or relief or at the very least, pity, Jem shrugged.“This is why he’s the tough one.”
16
While Daniel took Scipio outside, Tean set to work transforming the sofa into a bed.At some point, they would need to buy a bed for the spare bedroom, but for now, it was just extra storage space.
As Tean shook out a sheet, Jem said, “You realize that leaving probably saved his life.”
Tean paused as he fitted the sheet.Jem stood at the counter, his attention focused on slicing an onion.Finally, Tean said, “I can’t believe you think Ammon would do that.”
“Huh?Oh.No, not Daniel.Although yeah, the sooner he’s out of that house, the better.I meant the guy on the phone.Scott.”
Tean hesitated.Then he finished tucking in the sheet.
“Think about it,” Jem said.“The dad has that mysterious fall in the barn.The mom has a mysterious fall at home.”
“People do fall.It’s a common household injury.”
“You think I forgot about that ladder conversation?”But before Tean could respond, Jem went on, “There’s no way it’s a coincidence.They’re just lucky they didn’t end up like Rydel.”
The image of the burned and broken body, soaked in his own blood, floated up to Tean.He had to pause.And when his hands moved again to crease the edge of the sheet, they were trembling.
“What I don’t understand,” Jem said, “is if he thought his dad was such hot shit,whydid he kill him?”
“Stepdad,” Tean said as he got to his feet.“And maybe he didn’t.”
Jem was giving him a you’re-full-of-baloneylook across the cutting board.
“Like a lot of gay men, I think Kai has a complicated inner life,” Tean said.
“So, you think he’s gay?”
