The day came to an abrupt end.

Kenneth, Jaxon's father, had returned from a business trip. 

I was hoping not to run into him yet, but I knew I would eventually run into the guy who had decided to take me in. It was the least I could do to repay his generosity.

And, as if something was conspiring against me, dinner time arrived almost too quickly. Jaxon's father had changed from his work clothes to casual ones by that point. We exchanged greetings before settling down at the dinner table.

“The steak tonight is marvelous, you two, right?” Jaxon’s father commented as he cut another piece before putting it in his mouth.

Kenneth Barrett, Jaxon’s father, had features similar to his son. The only thing different was that he had blonde hair. That had me assuming that Jaxon got his hair from his mom, even though I was yet to see a picture of her.

“Son, how’ve you been since the last time we saw each other?” Kenneth then asked.

“Fine. I’ve been good,” Jaxon replied.

“Ever the conversationalist,” Kenneth chuckled.

Then it was quiet. Almost bordering on being awkward. 

Or maybe I was the one who felt awkward. I didn’t know what to do, but then I felt I shouldn’t do anything. I looked at Jaxon, but he did not seem to want to say anything else. I turned my head to steal a glance at his father, but his gaze seemed to meet mine at that moment.

‘Oh shoot.’

“Emma,” Kenneth smiled, “how has your stay been so far? My guest hasn’t had any problems, right?” 

Yep. I was the one who felt awkward. 

“… good. It’s been good. No problems here,” I replied with an awkward chuckle, slowly taking a bite of my food while looking at him and then at Jaxon.

“Great to hear,” Jaxon’s father replied. Then silence returned to the room as everyone continued to eat.

My first impression of Kenneth was that he was a dad. That he acted like a dad. And by that, I mean not being good at having conversations with his child or potentially anyone else in his child’s age group.

And from that, I could deduce he was an okay guy.

“You’ve been okay, right?”

I didn’t understand what he meant.

“Since you got from the hospital? No sudden pains or something like that?”

I understood then.

“No, no. I’ve been doing really well.”

“Uh huh. That’s nice.”

“I actually wanted to thank you--”

“Oh, it’s the least I could do,” Kenneth cut me off with another smile of his.

He moved to cut another piece of his steak.

“Emma, there’s something I wanted to talk about with you,” Kenneth suddenly said. His voice had a hesitant quality to it, which made me uncomfortable.

‘… Okay?’

“I’ve been meeting with your mother.”

I was confused for a moment, as if I had not heard what he said. Jaxon also looked confused.

“She wanted me to tell you that she’s sorry for what you had to go through,” Jaxon’s father continued.

‘... wait.’

“In fact, it was she who asked me to house you while she’s… you know.”

At that point, I began to have answers for things I had previously dismissed. It was becoming clear why Kenneth had invited me to stay at his house with his son. 

“She worried you wouldn’t have a place to stay while she’s…” Kenneth sighed. 

‘Just say the word. It’s not like she's dead.’

“I’ll be taking care of you for the time being. And I’ll also be in charge of you at least until you’re done with your education.”

I had known about that. But my main concern was: why was he talking to Alice? I expected him to be repulsed by her, knowing her role in Emma's abuse. 

And with the way Kenneth was looking at me, I could tell that something else was coming. Another shoe was about to drop.

“We talked further, and we agreed that nothing will change about your school. You’ll continue your education in Saint Lucas Academy.”

I knew I should not have been surprised, especially after he mentioned talking to Emma's mother, but I was.

“Your mother worried about that, but I told her not to worry, that you’ll continue with your studies–”

“Actually, Mr. Barrett--”

“Call me dad,” he corrected with a smile.

‘No,’ I thought while looking back at the guy with an uneasy smile, believing he had lost his marbles.

“Mr. Barrett,” I started, “I actually wanted to talk to you about school. Can I change?”

Jaxon must have swallowed wrongly, because he started to cough.

“What do you mean?” Kenneth asked.

“I’d rather not continue my studies at Saint Lucas Academy,” I explained. 

Wondering about Kenneth's relationship with Alice could wait; it was the least of my concerns at the time.

“Why?” Kenneth frowned.

“Well, it’s because you have done so much for me already. A public school will be enough, because with tuition--”

“What about tuition? Your mother told me you scored a scholarship that’s paying for your high school studies there,” he cut me off.

‘What is this I’m hearing about a scholarship? Emma got into Saint Lucas through a scholarship?’

I did not remember that bit in the novel. But, anyway.

“... it was where you would stay that mostly concerned your mother, not school–”

“Mr. Barrett, I don't want to continue at Saint Lucas,” I said.

“... Why?” 

“Because I’m bullied there.”