20

But could I even judge her parenting? Was I any better of a

father, absent as I was? And, truth be told, I would have been yelling

myself hoarse if she hadn’t taken the lead. If I weren’t drowning in

my emotions. If I weren’t remembering Audrey’s last words to me—

Listen to what he has to say.

So far, he hadn’t much to say at all. Or, rather, Ellen hadn’t given

him much chance for a defense. She didn’t let up, in fact, until she

seemed to remember the police were on the case. She stormed out

of the room to retrieve her phone and make the call.

Left alone together, Aaron chanced a glance in my direction. I

could feel the frown on my face. Could imagine the disappointment

he saw on my features. It was no surprise that he hung his head

sullenly in response.

I took a breath and forced the tension from my body. “Aaron…” I

began carefully.

“I know already,” he snapped, throwing his beanie on his desk.

He unzipped his coat and threw it over the back of the chair. “Mom

said everything, okay.