#Chapter 78: The Father

Barnett gestured for me to sit down, and I took one of the plush armchairs across from his desk. “Can I get you anything?” he asked. “Water or something?” I shook my head. “No, I’m alright.” He nodded and sat down in his leather chair. “Either Lily is clairvoyant, or she convinced you to come here,” he said after a moment of awkward silence. “She’s adamant that we talk.” He just nodded again. Another long stretch of silence ensued as I searched for something to say. “You look great,” he said. I wasn’t used to this awkwardness between us. It seemed to squeeze at my throat, preventing the words from rising. So much time had passed, and he felt both familiar to me and completely a stranger. “I heard about your father,” I answered, ignoring his compliment completely. That felt like dangerous territory. “I’m sorry he was sick. Is he doing better now?” “He is,” he said. “It was tough going for a while, but he’s doing a lot better now. Good enough to kick me out, anyway.” “He sounds