White Space Season 1

began to ride home, he noticed that Don had kept walking, through the parking lot, and into the woods beyond.
    Where the hell is he going?
    Milo wasn’t about to follow. Instead, he biked home — scared, alone, and itching like crazy as the sky began to open up.

    * * * *

CHAPTER 8 — Jon Conway

    Wednesday night…

    The four of them sat around the small circular table in Cassidy’s kitchen, while Cassidy tried not to look embarrassed about the size or shape of her miniature house. Jon could see her stealing glances at the peeling paint, probably thinking that her square footage was probably less than Jon’s smallest guest bathroom in his L.A. villa.
    Jon’s smallest guest bathroom was about the size of a small closet, and he could have given a giant squishy shit about the size of Cassidy’s house. He was happy to be sharing a meal with the Hughes family, even if it was forever missing a vital member.
    Truth was, the Hughes and Conway families were now forever linked.
    Jon and Emma sat across from Cassidy and Viv. Dinner started with nothing but scowls from Vivian, but once Jon managed to keep her laughing through fifteen straight minutes, she lost the flare in her nostrils and settled somewhere between her granddaughter’s glee and her daughter’s cautious affection.
    “I don’t remember the last time you made anything this delicious for me,” Vivian said, smiling at Cassidy.
    “That’s not fair,” Cassidy said. “I make you dinner all the time.”
    “I never said you didn’t make me dinner. I said it was a long time since you made something this good. Most of the time it’s microwave or nothing, and you know it.”
    “That’s not true,” Cassidy’s face started to flush.
    “Yes, it is!” Vivian howled. “Even on Mother’s Day last year, when it was your turn to take me out somewhere, you said, ‘sorry Ma, I’m broke. It’s Lean Cuisine or nothing. Your sister made pork chops.”
    Cassidy stared at her placemat. Jon couldn’t tell if she was smiling or scowling, but he figured it was an even blend of each.
    “I remember that,” Emma said. “They were good.” She laughed, said, “The other white meat,” then laughed to herself again, as though recalling something funny. Jon exchanged a glance with Cassidy, and felt a sinking in his stomach. He was minutes from telling Emma that he was her father. A million butterflies fluttered in anticipation.
    Presenting the award for Best Supporting Actor at the Oscars.
    His first red carpet.
    His first acceptance of Best Actor — Golden Globes, not Oscar.
    Telling Sarah he’d cheated on her while in California.
    Nothing compared to the sort of anxiety stirring in his gut as he glanced at his daughter.
    Daughter! Me, of all people! I still can’t believe it.
    “Who wants ice cream?” Cassidy asked everyone, though her eyes were aimed at Emma.
    “Me!” Emma yelled.
    Vivian said, “As long as it’s not that Moose Tracks crap. Stuff is way too sweet.”
    Emma said, “Mom said you shouldn’t say crap.”
    Vivian smiled, “You’re right. Sorry, dear, I meant to say shit. ”
    Emma burst out laughing and the others followed suit until everyone was cracking up.
    Cassidy returned with Breyers chocolate chip — Jon’s choice. He preferred ice cream with ingredients you could count on one hand.
    They all shoved ice cream into their smiles and let it melt in their mouths as they laughed and shared their favorite and funniest Sarah stories.
    “Mom,” Cassidy said, taking bowls to the sink, just as they planned. “Would you mind helping me with the dishes? Jon wants to show Emma a magic trick.”
    “A magic trick?” she looked up at Cassidy. “What makes you think I don’t want to see the trick?”
    Cassidy narrowed her eyes in her best don’t challenge me, Mom look. Vivian cackled and said “sure thing,” then turned to Emma and added, “Watch his hands. The tricks are always in the hands.”
    Jon stood, said “Thanks ladies,” and held his hand out to Emma. She took it, smiling as he led her from the kitchen and into the tiny living room.
    Jon knew some basic magic, taught to him by Jimmy Stardust, an FX guy Jon worked with on the Eternal films. He’d already prepped a simpler trick since his aim wasn’t to impress Emma so much as let her figure the trick out for herself.
    He pulled a deck of cards from his pocket, pre-sorted with red and black. Jon had gently bent all the red cards so their faces were slightly concave, and