This is the second in a series of 500 word or so drabbles, "Crisis Conversations", which may have taken place during The Perfect Storm. Thank you to Loracj for betaing.
This one is Sandy and Seth. I have shamelessly stolen Ryan's best line and given it to Seth to say first! Thanks as always to Loracj for betaing.
The best friends live in pool houses
Sandy knocked tentatively on his son's door. Seth had been rivalling Ryan for the title of Broodiest Teen in Newport since he had signed Ryan's Guardian Release form, and Sandy thought it was time they had one of their "talks.
"Seth, you in there?"
Sandy knew things must be bad when his words were not met with a volley of sarcastic quips.
He pushed the door open cautiously and stuck his head round the corner of the room. Seth lay on the bed, staring upwards. He ignored his father.
"Seth, can we talk?"
"You can talk, dad but I'm not promising to listen." His eyes remained fixed to the ceiling.
Sandy sat down heavily on the edge of the bed.
"I know you're not very happy with me…"
Seth snorted. "Yeah, there's an understatement."
"Seth! Try and understand." Seth sat up abruptly and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He glared at his father, the dark brown of his eyes flashing with accusation.
"Yeah I'm really trying, dad. I'm trying to understand why you and mom would take in a kid abandoned by his alcoholic mother and her abusive boyfriend, treat him like your own and then just let him walk out of our lives when the going gets rough."
"You know it's not like that, Seth. We've been through tough times with Ryan before. We've never given up on him. We're NOT giving up on him now."
"No? Then why aren't you stopping him from leaving?"
"Ryan's right, he should be allowed to make his own decisions."
"Yeah? Like I'm allowed to? I can go and get on the boat with him then?"
"Now don't be stupid, Seth…"
"I'm being serious. You'd let me go?"
Sandy shrugged his shoulders, bewildered. Seth's eyes bored into him as he waited for his father to respond.
"If I felt you had a right to leave, then, I guess I'd probably let you go. I don't know."
"And you think Ryan has a right to leave?"
Sandy moved along the bed so he was closer to Seth.
"Like he said, he's been trying, and things haven't gone so well."
"So he should be allowed to give up?"
"I think he's tired of trying…"
"I don't think he's tired. I think he's lonely."
"Lonely?"
"Yeah, you know. He's not part of Harbor, he's not part of Newport Union. He's not a Cohen. He's not really an Atwood either, not any more. It just seems like he's adrift, I guess." Seth smirked momentarily to himself. Adrift? Kind of ironic really, seeing as where Ryan was headed.
Sandy sighed. Seth was probably right. He hadn't seen it like that.
Seth lowered his head and picked at his fingernails.
"I don't want him to leave…" he whispered.
A lump formed in Sandy's throat as he took in the slumped shoulders and look of resignation on his son's face. He placed an arm around him.
"I don't want him to leave either, Seth. But part of being a good parent is letting your kids make decisions you know they'll probably live to regret."
Seth rested his head on his father's shoulder.
"But this is such a big decision."
"I know. But Ryan's handled big decisions in the past. He'll figure out what's right eventually. It just might take a while."
"And you think he'll come back?"
Sandy shrugged. "I can't promise anything Seth. I hope so. I think he will. But whatever happens in the future, don't we want Ryan leaving today knowing he'll always be welcome here?"
tbc