WHEN HE FINALLY KNEW.

red in the distance, someone cursed on the sidewalk, and the smell of

e half-closed blinds. It felt weird waking up here again. It felt lik

soft knock

id's voice

. I'm

open, holding two st

a life

ed me a cup, and then plopped down on

ye made him pancakes. The go

he

akes. Then trie

. "That'

ng coffee like we used to in college

ng..." I said

bo

register Elvis in a nearby school. I don't know how

brow. "That's actu

you'd sa

looked int

hoping you and F

e officially aunti

ks, E

there a moment longer before I got

since I'd be spending most of my days at Harper Corp. But the other school, Spru

op screen. "Small class sizes, good reviews, and they

y. "He used to fall asle

nid said, peeking o

ah. He's got

added. "Even if he did c

d, sipping her juice, "Mis

derstood," E

diner . Elvis had been quiet most of the morning, clinging a little closer to me than usual. But he seemed to like the school. He didn't say

ked him while he poked

took a small bite. "I

d or

e said, v

oss the table.

vous?" I ask

le. But you'll come

way

my arm and didn't say anyth

t with Faye in the living room while Enid wash

led with sticky notes and highlighter

ig

ing Dylan Ha

pose

"That's a big

s kind of...

ing aggressively. You land this deal, and it's not jus

owly. "No pr

and leaned forward. "But

esterday. I need to br

ma

ts outside the window, fi

l goes south?"

wo

if it

. We move. We ad

at would I do

h and

ted. There was more than just business at stake.

we stood outside S

el. "It's just a half day today. I'll

layground. Kids ran around shouting and lau

," I whispered,

"You'll do g

een candy when you get back u

ny smile. "What if

still

glancing back once. I waved

th I didn't know

ay," Faye sa

onger than I give

so ar

one to work after we dropped Elvis at school. The air was cool, the kind of bris

sat by the window. "They're planning a preliminary b

urs

ll ki

fingers tight around the cup

need me t

e is... just stay cal

worried a

orried ab

odd

d. He's just a child. People don't put thin

es," I said quietly. "In Elvi

touched my hand. "Whatever happe

ka

y crawling into bed. The apartment was quiet, lights low

weeks. Could be months. But the past wasn't something you coul

had El

mething

going to