Chapter 282: A Heart-to-Heart for the First Time
In the end, it was Veronica who compromised in her conflict with Kevin, agreeing to formally adopt Ethel and her son, little Jonah.
After all, their circumstances had changed. They used to be poor—just slightly better off than Frank's family. Back then, it was just the two of them. As long as they had enough to eat and wear, they didn't have to worry about much else. Unlike Fiona, who had a bunch of kids to care for, plus the never-ending trouble caused by Frank.
Even though they were doing better than Frank's household, that didn't mean much—they were all just poor folks scraping by in the South Side.
But now, they were on the same "pirate ship" as Frank. Even if they were only helping him launder money, their share of the profits was enough to make a significant difference. Compared to before, their financial situation had improved greatly.
So, Ethel was now officially registered as Kevin and Veronica's daughter.
Which also made Kevin and Veronica grandparents now—well, technically, maternal grandparents.
Though they were still under thirty, and Ethel was only fourteen, the situation just highlighted how destructive that cult had been.
Kevin now had the mindset of an old dad. Watching all the college kids bustling around the campus, he couldn't help but think about Ethel.
Since being rescued from the cult, Ethel had been living with them.
It's worth noting that there's a difference between fostering and adoption. Fostering meant the government gave them money to care for the child. Back then, Veronica had agreed to take Ethel in purely for the subsidy. There was no way she'd pay out of pocket.
Because of that, Ethel never went to school. Education costs money—even public school comes with expenses.
Besides, before being rescued, Ethel had spent her entire life in that cult. At thirteen, she was forced to marry the cult leader, a man in his seventies or eighties—a creepy old man. She had never attended school.
But after her formal adoption, Kevin had always wanted to send her to school.
That desire grew even stronger as he accompanied Lip and Karen to their college. Seeing the vibrant campus life reaffirmed Kevin's resolve.
The dorm area was chaotic, filled with students and commotion. Some of the younger kids were already going wild, running everywhere.
"Stop running around! Sammi, keep an eye on them!" Frank shouted, pushing his mother's wheelchair.
"College, huh…" Peggy muttered wistfully as she looked around. No one in the Gallagher family had much education—they were all street-smart folks from the bottom rung of society.
"I went to college once," Frank said.
The old Frank had been a top student at Northwestern. Though he eventually dropped out, he'd still been from a prestigious school—how else could he have met people like Walter and Gretchen?
"Make lots of friends here. It'll help you in the future," Frank told Lip and Karen, thinking of Walter.
"Okay," the two replied.
Frank first dropped Lip off at his dorm. His roommates had already arrived, and after some quick introductions, Frank led everyone to Karen's dorm.
After settling in, they toured the campus—checking out the cafeteria, classrooms, library, science center, and more.
By the time they finished, it was nearly dark. Everyone reluctantly said their goodbyes and returned home.
"Get ready—we'll head back in a day or two," Frank told Pinkman that evening.
"Got it," Pinkman said eagerly. He was in the middle of a passionate romance and couldn't wait to return and be with the landlord's daughter.
That night, after dinner, Ian suddenly approached Frank.
"Dad…" he said quietly.
"What's up, kid?" Frank replied, a little surprised.
Ian wasn't the kind of boy who shared his feelings. He tended to keep things bottled up—introverted, sensitive, and quiet, especially because of his sexuality.
Usually, Frank was the one who initiated heart-to-hearts. But this time, Ian had come to him.
For Frank, this was a huge step. Ian was starting to accept him and was now seeking advice like a real father-son relationship.
It might've been influenced by Lip starting college. In the past, Ian and Lip would talk privately about anything serious.
But no matter the reason, this moment mattered. Ian was finally reaching out—and Frank was determined to handle it perfectly.
"Dad… how can you tell if someone really likes you?" Ian asked after a long pause, the two of them sipping their drinks.
Frank nearly choked on his liquor.
He'd thought something serious had happened, but it turned out to be a question like this.
But then again, what could be more serious for a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old? At that age, life was all about school and love.
Considering Ian's orientation, the "someone" he mentioned was clearly a boy—probably someone his own age. If it were another older man, like that married supermarket owner pushing forty, Ian wouldn't be struggling with it like this.
"Figuring out whether someone really likes you is both complicated and simple," Frank began, thoughtful.
"Huh?" Ian leaned in, curious.
"Words and actions can be faked. Sweet talk and promises—anyone can learn that. Even spending money on someone… some people think generosity equals love, but it's easy to be misled."
"If you rely on those things to judge love, you'll end up tricked—or deluding yourself."
"In my experience," Frank said, "the real way to tell is in their eyes."
"Their eyes?" Ian frowned.
"Yeah, the eyes. Or more accurately, the look in them. Eyes don't lie. Even if they're good at hiding their feelings, even if they've mastered the game, there will be moments where their eyes betray them."
"When you see that look—you'll know. You'll feel it."
"Hmm…" Ian fell silent, clearly deep in thought.
"So, which boy is it? Do I know him? Maybe your old man can help you figure it out," Frank said with a smirk, genuinely curious.
He still didn't know about Ian and Mickey.
"I'm going to bed!" Ian shot up and ran off without saying anything else.
"Heh, that kid…" Frank chuckled and took another sip of his drink.
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The next afternoon, Jimmy surprised Fiona with some unexpected news.
"Jimmy wants to bring everyone to meet his family over dinner," Fiona said.
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