PART ONE
“I don't know what it is that makes me love you so
I only know I never want to let you go.”
- I Only Want to Be With you
-
CHAPTER 1
“You’re late.”Alan Weber sat at the kitchen table, a cup of coffee before him.
Patrick glanced absently at the wall clock. “It’s barely after ten.”
“Your mother was expecting you for dinner.”
“I told her I wasn’t hungry. My stomach was feeling weird.”
“She was worried when you didn’t come home on time.”
On time? “I wasn’t aware I had a curfew. I’m not a kid.”
“Don’t get smart with me.”
“I wasn’t.”
His dad stood. “It’s common courtesy to call if you’re going to be late.”
“I didn’t know that ten was late. And I told Mom I was just going out for a drive. I didn’t say when I’d be back.” Why were they having this conversation? Patrick didn’t want to talk to his dad, he just wanted to go to his room and try to forget… everything.
“Where did you go?”
“I just said, I was driving around.”
“You didn’t stop anywhere?”
Patrick sniffed, shaking his head. “What is this about?”
“It’s me being a concerned father.”
“There’s nothing to be concerned about,” Patrick mumbled.
“So, answer the question. Did you stop anywhere?”
Patrick sighed. “Yeah. I stopped at a restaurant and had a soda. I was there for a short while, then I left and drove around some more.”
His dad stared at him with scrutiny. “Why all the driving around? Something on your mind?”
“Maybe. But I can handle it. It’s nothing.”
“You want to talk about it?”
“Thanks, but… no.”
“Why not?”
“I just don’t feel like talking about it. I told you, it’s nothing.” He rubbed his eyes. “I’m tired. Can I go?”
