As the evening progressed, the conversation between Amara and Alessandro remained polite, almost superficial. Alessandro tried to engage Vaughn, asking him questions about his day, his interests, but the boy’s responses were short and guarded. He wasn’t rude, but he wasn’t forthcoming either, and it became clear that Vaughn wasn’t comfortable around Alessandro.
Amara watched the interaction with a heavy heart. She could see that Vaughn was trying, but he wasn’t connecting with Alessandro, and that bothered her more than she wanted to admit. She had always been protective of her son, careful about who she allowed into their lives, and this dinner was a stark reminder of why. Vaughn was her world, and if he didn’t feel comfortable with someone, it was a red flag she couldn’t ignore.
Alessa
