[Tragosβ conversation with Kaden about Aphrodite goes about as badly as Tragos predicted it would. He struggles to impress the seriousness of the situation on Kaden, whoβs sleep deprived from trying to catch up on homework and who canβt reconciliate an Aphrodite who would attack someone in the street with the Aphrodite whoβd been so kind to him and Marcie. Tragos shouts trying to get his point across, his fear across, and Kaden shouts right back. It's a mess.
βMaybe she just wants to look after the baby!β Kaden yells, turning in the doorway with his hand on the door, poised to slam. βMaybe the kid would be lucky to have two mothers who canβt die!β
When he storms out, he slams every door as he passes it, even stopping at the car in the driveway to open the door and slam that, too.
Tragos doesnβt go after him because the raw hurt in Kadenβs voice isnβt something he knows how to soothe. The boys never talk about their mother, but Tragos can see the ghost of her ripping at Kaden today.
Kaden doesnβt know where to go or what to do. He puts a lot of distance between himself and his house very quickly because if he doesnβt run full tilt something is gonna catch up with him and he doesnβt wanna hang around and find out what it is. Thereβs a freedom of thought in running this fast, and for a while thatβs the only thing he needs to know.
He ends up in McDonalds because itβs open and familiar and bright, those arches like a beacon. Itβs not the one he took Melpomene to but it might as well be. Kaden thinks about her and about goddesses fighting over a baby and still canβt get over it enough to see the problem, kinda blinded by the fact that the kidβs so wanted, before its born, even. And by two rich, generous goddesses, whoβve both shown him unexpected kindness.
He takes his tray of food to a corner so he doesnβt have to look over his shoulder for anything, and pulls out his phone. His stomach is squirming and he tries to calm it with a deep drink of cold raspberry coke, slowly and uncertainly typing out a message.
He stares at his phone a long time before he finally decides, and sends it to both of them. Separately. ]
[Aphrodite]
Tragos told me about your fight. I hope you're ok.
[Melpomene]
Tragos told me about your fight. I hope you're ok.
weird
calm
relieved
chipper
crappy
distressed