And at me.
“Was that our dinner?” Logan asks. The embarrassment creeps back in, and I feel it all over my body this time.
“Yes,” I say uneasily. “But I’m going to fix it now, don’t worry. Just as soon as I clear up this mess.”
“We’re all going to help, aren’t we, guys?” Mr Yang asks my niblings.
“Sure,” Logan offers immediately.
“I don’t think we should stay here,” Rowan says. “Better to air out the place and not be here breathing all this smoke.”
Rowan is right, which makes me feel even more uncomfortable.
“How about we order pizza?” Rowan suggests. “If Mr Yang is kind enough to let us stay at his place for a while.”
Mr Yang smiles broadly. “I’d be happy to.” Then he turns to the children. “Let’s finish our homework while Uncle Seth and Mr Kennedy… discuss.”
I thank Mr Yang with my eyes and say goodbye to the children as they leave the smoke-filled apartment. When we are alone again, I lower my gaze, embarrassed and guilty, not daring to turn it to Rowan.
“Better open all the windows,” he suggests, heading for the living room.
“I’ll take care of the rooms.” I turn away from him to open the windows in the apartment, then return to the kitchen, where Rowan has already started cleaning up.
“You don’t have to.”
“It’s not a problem.”
“It’s not your job. I messed it up, and I need to fix it.”
Rowan nods slowly, then looks at me. “How come the alarm didn’t go off?”
“I really don’t know.”
“You changed the batteries, didn’t you?”
“Of course,” I say nervously. I feel interrogated.
“Seth.”
“I think I…” I scratch my head, nervous. “Maybe I forgot, and maybe… I must have turned it off when it started making those weird noises.”
Rowan breathes slowly and heavily.
“It was a little accident that could happen to anyone.”
“You have three minors in your custody.”
“I know.”
“And you are fighting not to lose them.”
“I know that too.”
“Don’t make my work useless.”
I lower my head. I don't know what else to say. I feel humiliated.
“I’ll see if Mr Yang has any batteries. I don’t think you have any.”
