Chapter 24: Chapter 24

“It would be lunch,” Alex says accusingly, and Ryan grins.

“Thought you’d appreciate the chance to get out of the village for a bit,” he teases. “Don’t you go into town much?”

Alex shakes his head, yawns for a third time, and drags a kitchen chair back with his foot. It squeals on the tiles obnoxiously.

“Aren’t your parents in?” Ryan asks.

Alex rolls his eyes to the ceiling, in his “thinking about it” pose, then nods and says, “Dad. I think.”

“Your Mum?”

“No.”

It’s quite possible that Alex doesn’t know where she’s gone. Ryan still can’t quite grasp that. His parents aren’t around too much either, but he knows where they are. Work. Easy.

“What does your mother do?” he asks as the toast pops.

Alex frowns at him as he meanders back to the counter.

“Like, what’s her job?”

Alex shrugs.

“You don’t know?”

Alex shakes his head and says, “Doesn’t work anymore.”

“Retired?”

“No.”