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“They must be in the house,” Kinnick said.
“You don’t lock your door?”
“There’s no one out here but me and some raccoons. Andtheycan’t reach the doorknob.”
They left Asher asleep in the backseat and opened their car doors, stepping out into the dusty driveway. A gust of wind rustled the leafy birch trees, making a sound like distant shorebreak. “This parent stuff—” Bethany laughed uneasily. “My God.”
Kinnick wanted to agree but wasn’t sure he had the standing.
The front door of the little gray house opened, and Leah came out onto the porch, dressed in the same jeans and peplum top as the day before. “Mom?” Her voice quavered and she covered her mouth.
“Leah! What are you doing here?”
“We didn’t know where else to go.” Leah descended the steps, ran to her mother, and fell into Bethany’s arms.
“I’m sorry,” Bethany said into Leah’s hair. “I’m sorry I left you, baby.”
So, Kinnick thought, that’s how you apologized for leaving.
“Did you get to hear my dad’s band play your song?” Leah pulled back and looked up in her mother’s face.
“I did.”
“And—”
“And it was pretty great.”
“Oh, Mom,” Leah said. “I’m so glad!”
David Gallen Jr. emerged onto the porch then. He was short and slight, in rumpled khakis and a baby-blue button shirt, his white-blond hair already beginning to recede on his long forehead. He stood with his hands in his pockets, shoulders slumped, squinting through round glasses. If not for his thin hair, he might have passed for thirteen or fourteen himself, Kinnick thought.
“What are you guysdoingup here?” Bethany asked again.
“Do you know what his parents want todoto him?” Leah asked.
“Yeah,” said Bethany, “we heard.”
“What did they tell you?” Davy asked.
“Well—” Bethany looked over at Kinnick, who nodded. Yes, she should tell the poor kid. “Your parents said they think you might be... gay?”
“Unbelievable,” Davy said. “They told you that? What, are they just going around telling everyone? Is it in the church bulletin? ‘Sunday prayer service starts at nine. Also, David Jr. might be gay!’”
“Of course not,” Bethany said. “They’re just concerned, that’s all.”
“He’s not gay,” Leah said confidently.
Bethany paused a moment, then looked down at her daughter.
Kinnick had what he assumed must be the same thought as Bethany just then:Wait, how doesLeahknow that.And wait, what did they do inside his house last night.And, just, generally:Wait.
“Oh, Leah,” Bethany said, “you guys didn’t—” She didn’t finish the thought.
“What? No!” Leah looked disgusted. “Gross. Why are parents so obsessed with sex all the time? We kissed is all.”
“And Ilikedit!” Davy said triumphantly.
Kinnick briefly wondered if there was an even more remote place he could move to next time.