It was all the encouragement Quinn required to begin grabbing skillets and cooking supplies.
Once the platters were filled and Connor changed his mind—complaining about how he hated to see all the good eats go to waste—Quinn dug in. He’d consume enough calories to put the average person into a food coma.
He never skipped breakfast altogether. “You look tired,” Rae said, concerned. “Did you get enough sleep?” Sometimes he stayed up late studying.
“I’m okay.” He gave her a cursory glance. “Your hair looks nice.”
Giving her head a playful shake, she hoped to draw a smile. “We all need to let our hair down sometimes.” When no reaction was forthcoming, she ditched the humor. “Any tests this week?” she asked.
“Nothing major.” He watched Shelby trot out of the kitchen, no doubt to doze on his still-warm bed. “Just a few quizzes.”
“That’s good.”
He pulled out his car keys. “I guess.” He stuffed them back into his coat pocket.
On the parenting highway, his indecision signaled distress. Was there something he needed to discuss? He was also back to his old trick of avoiding eye contact. Another bad sign.
Worried, Rae turned off the coffeepot. Filling her travel mug, she searched for a new conversation starter. Whatever troubled him, he appeared in no hurry to open up. Leaving for work wasn’t an option until she got to the bottom of it. How to proceed was the real issue. They didn’t have a natural rapport. Without Connor to provide the essential chemistry, many of their interactions were stilted or brief.
“Should I pick up dinner on my way home?” Opening the fridge, she pretended to hunt for a breakfast option. “Do you want pizza tonight? Or I can bring home Thai. You liked it, the last time.”
“Why would you get takeout?” Quinn glanced at her peevishly. “I cook on Mondays. I’m making rosemary chicken patties and garlic potatoes. Connor’s helping me.”
“Sounds heavenly.” She closed the fridge. “You know, we appreciate all the great meals. Before you moved in, we lived on lunch meat and frozen entrées. But you’re under no obligation to pull kitchen duty. If you have to study or aren’t in the mood to cook, just give me a call. I’ll pick something up.”
“The recipes are easy. It won’t take long.”
“How’s it going with the decorative lights?” She’d been too busy to check. “My dad says you’re making great progress.”
Quinn reached for his book bag, then reversed the motion. “Great,” he said with exactly no enthusiasm. In another worrisome habit, he began picking at his nails. “We’re on the fourth tree now. We’ll have all the lights strung this afternoon. We might get started on the fifth tree, if the weather holds. Connor thinks it might rain later on.”
“The forecast doesn’t call for rain until tonight. Only a twenty percent chance.”
“Whatever.”
A snippy response, and totally not Quinn’s style. “Do you need lunch money?” she asked, determined to get him talking. There was a chance bribery would soften up the churlish teen.
His eyes flashed. “Why would you give me lunch money? I’m not your kid.”
“I’m feeling generous this morning,” Rae tossed back, thinking, Hit the brakes. Trouble ahead. Speeding up instead, she asked, “Any new text messages from your mother? I’m hoping Penny had better things to do than badger you all weekend.” A touchy subject, but Quinn was already peevish.
“I took Connor’s advice and blocked her. He got pretty mad when I showed him the texts.” Dots of blood appeared on Quinn’s pinkie as he tore the nail too close to the skin. “He said a grown-up shouldn’t talk filth, especially to her own kid.”
The self-inflicted injury made Rae wince. “I agree. Parents should treat their children with love and respect.”
“Someone should tell my mom. I hate her stupid texts. She knows more cuss words than anyone on the planet.”
“Tell me about it. I googled a few of the unfamiliar ones.”
“Me too.” Quinn hesitated. “I also blocked my dad.”
A trill of fear swept through her. “You did?” Blocking Mik was like throwing down a gauntlet. There would be repercussions.
“I figured, what the heck. No guts, no glory. That’s what Connor says when I get hung up on decisions. The glory feels like a reach, though.”
Her heart went out to him. “Finding courage is never easy, Quinn. What matters is that you make the attempt.”