Frankie’s hands cramped on the steering wheel, his knuckles white against the worn leather. Every few seconds, his eyes darted to the passenger seat, an uncomfortable check on the twelve-year-old he hadn't seen in over five years, not since the divorce. The reunion felt less like a connection and more like a grim consequence: their mother had died just hours ago. Now, he had full custody.

“Why do you live so far?” The question sliced through the car's silence as Frankie stopped at a red light. It was the first time his kid had spoken since the burial.

“Your mom moved after we split… And, um… I couldn’t follow.” Frankie’s voice was a rough whisper. He hit the gas pedal, the engine groaning as the light changed.

“You never visited.” It wasn't as an accusation, but a plain, unassailable fact. They didn’t look at Frankie.

“I wasn’t allowed.” Frankie confessed, the words quiet but heavy. He swung the car into the gravel driveway of his single-story house. He pulled the gearshift into park and finally turned to face the kid he barely recognized, taller, sharper, and utterly unfamiliar. “Look, I… I’m sorry about your mom. I know this is a hard-”

“You don’t have to give me the talk. Grandma already did.” The eye roll was a devastatingly adult gesture as they unbuckled their seatbelt with a metallic click.

“Okay. Well, I…” Frankie gestured vaguely toward the house, a pale, unassuming structure. “I don’t know how to do this.” He cleared his throat. “I know we haven’t seen each other in far too long. And I just want you to know-”

They cut him off with a loud, impatient sigh and wrenched the door open. “Can we just go in? I’m tired.”

Frankie pressed his lips into a thin, defeated line and nodded. He climbed out and walked around to the trunk, then motioned for the kid to enter. He didn't remember his kid having such an edge, or being this callous.

“It was kind of unexpected,” Frankie said, his hand lingering on the front doorknob, “but I’ll clear out a room for you this week. For now, we can make do.” He pushed the door open, letting them walk into the dim, quiet house first.