Mar 26

“Dad says I’m freakish, but he’s left now. How was Sicily?”

“What! Peter, you are not freakish! If he doesn’t appreciate you for you than he isn’t worth anything anyway, all right? I don’t care if he was your stepfather.”

“Whoa. First half of that definitely sounded like an after-break-up speech. And I know he doesn’t mean anything. I actually feel a bit…relieved that he’s gone. Really. Once more, how was Sicily?”

“You cannot be fine about this. He’s your father, for the love of Merlin! Do you want us to hunt him down and kill him? It can be done. Slowly and painfully. How is your mum holding up?”

“Nah, don’t bother, not worth it. Mum hasn’t spoken since he walked out. Won’t eat or buy food either. A great way to shed a few pounds. No, I kid you not. I have seriously lost weight. So…what? Did you not go to Sicily?”

“What? She’s starving you? This is an emergency. Food will be along shortly.”

“Actually, I’m enjoying the whole losing-weight-thing, but food is worth gaining it all back. Did you join a cult while on vacation? Is that why you are avoiding the Sicily question?”

“Sicily was wonderful. They had pretty gondolas.”