White Space Season 1

common denominator between Milo’s mom and Beatrice. And he knew his dad well enough to know when he was keeping shit to himself, being evasive, or hiding his eyes to bury truth.
    The psych ward: like prison for your brain.
    Milo wondered if his mother would have eventually found herself in Conway Medical’s psych ward if she hadn’t disappeared.
    Milo’s father cleared his throat and stepped in front of the TV, obscuring the face of a man talking about how Bible stories could easily be interpreted as descriptions of ancient aliens. It was the first thing that actually grabbed Milo’s interest, so of course his father would pick that moment to step in front of the TV.
    “I have to go to work,” his dad said. ”I’m sorry.”
    Milo shrugged. “No big deal, Dad. I get it.” Milo looked past his dad and toward the TV. “I think he’s gonna start talking about Peru next. Do you mind?”
    Stephen frowned, then turned toward the TV and flipped it to off. He turned back to Milo. “I really am sorry, Milo. This has nothing to do with you, and everything to do with me and bullshit at work.”
    “So you’re allowed to swear?” Milo almost smiled.
    “When appropriate.” Stephen almost smiled back. “I’m asking Dani to come by and stay with you.”
    “What? Why?” Milo said. “I don’t need anything. Or anyone.”
    “She has to clean anyway. I promise, it’s not just because of you. There’s plenty for her to do, especially with Bea gone. Dani can stock the fridge, or handle anything we need her to do. So don’t be proud. It’s not one of your best qualities. I swear, you must get it from your father.”
    Stephen smiled awkwardly, then squeezed Milo’s shoulder and said, “I’ll be home when I can, okay, Milo? Let Dani know what you want for dinner. It can be anything. If she can cook it, great. If not, have her find a place that will. I love you.” He kissed Milo on the forehead, said, “I’ll be home a little after five,” then walked toward the front door, pulling the glass card-sized phone from his pocket, checking for messages on the way.
    He turned back toward Milo, gave him one last half-smile, then stepped from the house, closing the door behind him.
    Milo didn’t feel alone, even though he thought he probably should. He wondered how long it would take for the loneliness to creep in, but didn’t get a chance to find out since his phone buzzed with Katie’s face smiling from her side of the glass.
    “Hey,” Milo said, looking into the phone, absentmindedly scratching his left arm through the gauze wrap that covered the stitched lacerations. Both arms were cut, but his left one was particularly itchy.
    “Hey. How are you doing?” Katie’s face didn’t look nearly as pretty once set to motion. Her eyes were red and cheeks thin. And not the beginning of summer thin. Sad thin.
    “OK, just a few bumps and bruises.”
    “I’m glad you’re okay. And sorry to hear about Bea.”
    “Yeah,” Milo said, not having much to say about Other-Mom.
    Katie paused for a moment and then said, “You know Alex’s dad is being buried at one.”
    “Good.”
    “I know, Milo. I get it. I do.” She swallowed, then said, “But you might regret it if you don’t go.”
    “I doubt it.”
    Katie waited a few seconds, then said, “You’re smarter than that, Milo. And yeah, you can hate Alex right now. I understand that. But I know you, and you won’t hate Alex forever. And when you’re not hating him anymore, and some of your hurt has settled down, you’re going to wish that you went and were there for your best friend.”
    “Wished I went to a murderer’s funeral? Sorry, Katie, not sure I can ever see living to regret that.”
    Katie shook her head. “Milo, I can’t even say that’s not fair because it is. What Mr. Heller did was horrible. The most horrible thing that’s ever happened, to me or to anyone I know. And we will probably never understand why he did what he did. But that doesn’t change the Mr. Heller you knew before the shooting. It doesn’t change him being a totally dorky but pretty awesome history teacher, or the fact that he was Alex’s dad, and was always cool to all of us every time we saw him. Obviously something happened to Mr. Heller. He snapped or something. You should get it more than anyone.”
    “What the hell does that mean?” Milo asked, pissed. “My mom didn’t try to kill people!”
    Katie sighed. “I’m not saying she did. But sometimes things