Astor and I are supposed to rent a movie at my place, but my mom makes me cancel. Astor seems tense on the phone—he has been since we had the conversation about his mother. He was busy this weekend, so we’ve only seen each other at school, and our interactions have been brief. I want to talk about it, I know he does too, but I can’t—not at school. Our family has dinner Thursday night. And I’m shocked to find Dad in the study, and then, later still, at the dinner table. He even talks to me. He asks about Astor. “I hear you’re seeing someone new” is what he says, a piece of baked potato on his fork. “Yeah,” I say. I don’t look at Peter, but I can tell he’s watching me. I haven’t asked him why he’s barely spent four consecutive days in California since school started. Now that Astor has explained, I’m angry with Peter again for not getting it. For saying Astor is crazy. He lost his mother. He’s damaged, not dark. “I’d like to meet him,” he says. My mother isn’t speaking, but I look at her.
