The View from Alameda Island - Robyn Carr Page 0,29

if that happens, I’ll find something else. There will always be room for you two. And your families, when they come.”

Michael got a little teary. “Sure,” he said. He swiped an arm under his nose like a seven-year-old.

“Mike, I know I’m not your biological father but I’ve always thought of you as a son. You have to know that.”

“Then why can’t you make it work?” he asked.

“Don’t be dumb,” Drew shot out. “It’s not Beau’s fault and you know it. Mom can be a pain in the ass.”

But Beau knew that wasn’t the problem Mike was having. “I’m not going anywhere, Mike. The only way you’ll get rid of me is if you don’t want me in your life and I hope to God that never happens. You’re an adult—you choose your friends and family. I want to be your chosen family. But that’s up to you. Not to your girlfriend, your grandparents, your teachers or the cops—just you. And incidentally, if your mom puts pressure on you to break off your relationship with me, telling her no is an option. I want to be there for you, like always. If you’ll let me.”

“It’s just that she wants us to be all together so much,” he said, sounding pitifully like a child.

“Tell her, Michael. Tell your mother there’s nothing you can do about her marriage. Ask her to please not fuck up your head over this. It’s not fair.”

“Don’t say anything to her, okay?” he said.

“I’m not getting between you and your mom,” Beau said. “But please don’t let her do this to you. You don’t have to get in the middle of this to prove you love her.”

“I can’t stand to see her hurt,” he said.

Pam had been doing that for years, putting her boys in the position of parent and protector. Drew was more resistant to that pressure. Or maybe he was just more oblivious. Good-old easygoing Drew. He seemed to have known since he was about seven there was nothing he could do about his mother or his father. When Pam went on a rant, he just withdrew until the storm passed.

“I know. It’s hard to see someone you love hurting. But remember. This was her choice. Now she’s going to have to be the grown-up and get through it. I’ll take care of her the way I always have—she has a great job and is far from broke. Michael, divorce is unpleasant as hell, but it’s not fatal. At least half your friends have been through it. All I want is that your future marriage doesn’t suffer. Learn from this.”

Michael just hung his head. He hadn’t wanted to blame Beau, Beau knew that. The poor kid couldn’t help it. His father practically abandoned him. His mother was unstable half the time.

“Hey, I was going to suggest we go out to dinner but if there’s a chance it could get emotional, let’s order in, get a pizza or something. I want you to be able to talk about this if you have questions or something. I’ll call and—”

“Nah, I gotta pass,” Michael said.

“Drew?” Beau asked.

“I’ll go out with Mike for a while,” he said, though he didn’t look too happy about it. “I won’t be late.”

“Just drive carefully,” Beau said. “I think I’ll go out for a beer or something. Just an hour or two. Then I’ll be here the rest of the night. Come here, Michael,” he said, opening his arms. “I love you, man. We’re still a family. This will settle down.”

“Yeah,” he said with a sniff. “Sure.”

When the boys had gone, Beau called Tim. “You got any cold beer?”

“I might have a couple,” he said.

“Good. Because I feel like shit. I’ll be there in twenty.”

* * *

Lauren had taken some pictures on her cell phone of Cassie’s new flat and said it was really adorable. “Looks like an adorable dump to me,” Brad said. She didn’t waste any more of his time. She did her laundry from her trip, folded it and put it away. She had prepared for this moment, organizing her things into bureau drawers so that she could quickly and effortlessly lift them out and into suitcases and duffels. She had listed exactly what household items she would need; she’d already taken two boxes of such items to Beth’s garage. Her lawyer had warned her that it might be a while before she got back into her house.

The time had come. Finally.

She had not told Lacey yet but after Cassie’s reaction,