Switching Spots

Blake

We pulled up outside Dad’s house before we could take the conversation any further. Aston looked a little dumbstruck as she got out of the car, but quickly recovered when Mom and Dad came outside to meet us. Both of them gave her quick hugs, Mom lingering and talking to her in hushed tones, as Dad came over to greet me.

When Mom finally stepped away from Aston, she came over and pulled me into the kind of loving hug I hadn’t had from her in years. For the first time since she came back into our lives, I allowed her to hug me. Strangely, I found myself liking it and hugged her back before leaving her to grab our bags from the car.

The hug from my mother was only the first surprise, though. When we got inside, I found the second surprise waiting for me in Dad’s study. “Danny? What are you doing here?”

Swirling amber liquid around in a tumbler, he sighed and rose to his feet. I didn’t know whose idea it was for him to be here, but to say he didn’t look overjoyed to see me was an un