Dray XIII

The next morning. Saturday. 11 am. Dray drags himself out of bed for an early lunch. Lou and Lily and Jessica are off for a shopping trip, and Aron is attempting to braid Marlaina's hair.

Dray walks by without saying a word.

Aron. "Dray, we should talk when you have a minute."

Abby, Katie, and Lily all watch with interest. 

Dray. Quietly. "Give me five minutes?"

Aron nods, hands over the hair binder to Katie with a pleading look, and goes to break apart Trace, Jacob, and Lucan, who are involved in some sort of wrestling match that was going from playful to sour fast.

---

Living room. Ten minutes later.

Enter Dray. Aron seated on the same chair he was last night. "Sit down, son."

Dray sits without protesting. 

Aron. "I'm sure you don't want to talk about anything that happened last night."

Dray looks intently away. "I was still drunk and overtired."

Aron. Looks a little too understanding. "I understand. And there's still a few things I'd like to say."

Dray. Tired. "Shoot."

Aron. "I want you to know that what you said last night about being really similar to Jason? I get it. I know you may not believe that, but I do. My dad drank a lot more than Jason ever did, and slapped us around a bit, too." Pauses as if this is painful for him to say. Dray is staring at him as if he's never seen him before. "He wasn't a great guy, I guess. And I drank in high school a few times, and one night I passed out and was in the hospital for BAC like they'd never seen before, and I was sure I was turning into my dad all over again.

Dray. His voice rough with emotion. "You didn't."

Aron. "No. No, I didn't turn into the same man at all, because I realized that the choice was mine, not my dad's or anyone else's. And that meant I had been making some pretty shitty ones up until that point, and owning up to that, but it also meant the freedom to move on from the past."

Dray bites his lip, looks away.

Aron. "If you don't want to talk, that's completely okay, but if you ever need me, I guess I just wanted to say... I get it. And I'm here."

Dray nods. Aron nods, gets up and starts for the door.

Dray. Stands. "Wait."

Aron turns slightly, waiting silently.

Dray. "I never said-- I'm sorry. For everything I said to you yesterday. And everything before that."

Aron nods. Opens his mouth to speak.

Dray. Shakes his head, cuts Aron off.

"Thanks, Dad."