A knock came at the door in the later hours of the night. Freshly filled from dinner and spread out along the couch, Guy lifted his head from its place on the armrest and sighed as he withdrew his arm from my shoulders.
“Sorry,” he said.
I shook my head to show indifference and watched him walk to the door. When he opened it, I caught sight of Amadeo standing in the doorway, speaking in hushed tones to Guy.
Guy turned and gestured me up.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
“My father wants to see you,” he said. “If that’s all right?”
“It’s fine.” I looked up at Amadeo. “Hello.”
“Good evening,” Amadeo said, his kind eyes filled with remorse for a sour situation.
With nothing else to do or say, I turned to face Guy. “Guess I’ll be back later,” I said, stepping out through an open door. “Keep an ear out for me?”
“I won’t lock you out,” he said.
We exchanged awkward waves before the door closed behind me.
“This way,” Amadeo said.
He led me through the series of hallways and directed us toward the far wing on the east side. Our footsteps sounded monstrous in the silence of the beautiful home, which only further added to my unease, but I managed to maintain myself and kept my gaze straight ahead.
“I was not aware that you and he had such an… awkward relationship,” Amadeo offered.
I stopped in the middle of the hall, near where the banister overlooked the expansive living room, and frowned. “Sorry?” I asked.
“When he brought you here, I assumed that you might have been a longtime lover. But judging by your actions…”
“It’s okay,” I said, in the silence after he faded off. “You can continue.”
Amadeo scanned my face before nodding, the unease wiped clean off his face. “Mr. Winters and I were concerned when we learned about the alleged murder allegations. When you walked through the door, I expected the pair of you to act in a more intimate manner. But now that I see that you haven’t… well… it makes me concerned for your wellbeing. Both of you.”
I wasn’t sure how to respond. “Guy called you ‘Papa,’” I said a short moment later, when the memory flickered across my conscience like a lonesome butterfly. “Does that mean you’re one of his parents?”
“Yes. I’ve been in Guy’s life since he was quite young. I practically watched him grow up.”
“I asked because he seems more relaxed around you.”
“Ah… the good parent, bad parent thing,” Amadeo said. He gestured me along and I followed him deeper into the house. “Elliot has always been hard on him, but with good intentions. He merely wants Guy to fulfill his legacy. I could care less what he does so long as he’s happy.”
“But Guy’s gay. Why is his father so concerned about continuing their bloodline?”
“Because he himself did it, despite his persuasion. He believes personal sacrifice is necessary if it is for the good of the people, regardless of whether the individual believes so or not.”
“So Mr. Winters thinks Guy’s being stubborn?”
“In a way, yes. But he fails to acknowledge the fact that Guy’s mother died during childbirth.”
I wasn’t sure what I’d expected. I’d thought that maybe the Kelda might have had something to do with Guy’s conception, or maybe his human mother had simply faded into the back of Guy’s life without question. I never expected this.
“How’d it happen?” I asked.
“That isn’t something I feel I should be discussing with you,” Amadeo said. He stopped near another set of double doors and knocked. “Elliot.”
“Yes?” the senior Winters asked.
“I’ve brought the boy. Jason.”
The door opened to reveal Elliot Winters in full, his clothes casual but not inappropriate for the evening. “Come in. I’ve been expecting you.”