“This weekend,” he said, lowering his voice, “is important to my family.”
There it was.
My family.
Rebecca glanced toward Noah and Nathan but clearly assumed they were simply students standing nearby.
I looked at Evan.
He was handsome in a quiet way, with dark hair and an uncertain expression.
Sixteen or seventeen, I guessed.
Michael put a hand on his shoulder.
“This is our son’s final state championship before college.”
“Our son,” Rebecca repeated gently.
The words were unnecessary.
She wanted me to hear them.
I did.
Thirteen years earlier, those two words might have destroyed me.
Now they merely clarified things.
“I’m happy for him.”
Rebecca’s smile became thinner.
“This is a private event.”
I looked up at the enormous banner behind her.
CONNECTICUT STATE ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE CHAMPIONSHIP.
“It’s a state competition,” I said.
“It’s literally in the name.”
Nathan coughed behind me.
It sounded suspiciously like a laugh.
