“Yeah, sorry. I know you don’t like to eat alone.”
“I might invite Kane,” I said. “You made enough for at least five people,” I added quickly.
“Oh, so he’s there?”
“Yes. We’re . . . doing homework together.”
“Sounds romantic. Should I be worried?” He hummed the shark theme again, just what I had been anticipating when I thought about calling him from Kane’s car.
“Dad! Stop!”
“Okay.”
“Is it all right to have him stay for dinner?”
“Absolutely. Later are you going to brag that your father won over your new boyfriend with his cooking?”
“No,” I said.
He laughed. “Enjoy,” he said, and shouted to someone just before he hung up.
I stood there for a moment thinking about it all and then walked slowly up the stairs. Kane was on my bed, his shoes off, the diary in his hands.
“You want to stay for dinner? My father’s definitely going to be late,” I said.
“What’s for dinner?”
“It’s his meat loaf, my mashed potatoes, and string beans.”
“Sure. I love meat loaf,” he replied, and then returned to the diary as if his eyes were pulled to it beyond his control.
I put my books on my desk and, after looking at him again, began to attack my homework. Even though I glanced at him from time to time, neither of us spoke for a good hour or so. Finally, I heard him sigh deeply, and I turned and saw that he had sat up and was holding his hands over his face.
“What?” I asked.
“This was one bright kid, this Christopher Dollanganger. He writes well, but he sounds like he’s afraid of his own emotions, afraid that he’s going to explode or something. I get the feeling he was walking around holding his breath most of the time, especially after they were brought to the mansion. And how about that grandmother? She’d give Norman Bates from Psycho nightmares. He’s putting up with a lot more than I would, even at that age.”
“Yes. He’s doing a great deal for his little brother and sister and for Cathy, and he has to keep the lid on.”
“I can’t wait to see if he does. Cathy sounds more difficult than the twins.”
“She has a lot to be unhappy about, Kane. She’s cut off from all her friends, everything that once made her life exciting, and look at the new responsibilities dropped on her. It wasn’t fair.”
He nodded. “Makes sense. So you like her?”
“Why not? It’s not her fault that they are where they are.”
“You sound very defensive. Maybe there’s more Cathy in you than either of us knows.”
“What?”
He smiled and picked up the diary again.
“Are you going to catch up to me in one day?” I asked, sounding a bit annoyed now.
“You bet.”
“What about your homework?”