No one spoke.
Then Noah said:
“I do.”
Lucas closed his book.
“Me too.”
Ethan looked at Miles.
Miles was always the quietest.
The one who felt things deeply and talked about them last.
“If we go and I don’t like him, can we leave?”
“Yes.”
“Right away?”
“Yes.”
“You won’t make us hug anyone?”
“No.”
“Call him Dad?”
“No.”
Miles nodded.
“Then I want to see him.”
Ethan said:
“I want to see his face.”
I gave him a look.
“That sounds threatening.”
“It’s not.”
“What is it?”
“Research.”
Of course.
I accepted Adrian’s invitation that night.
My reply was only:
Thank you. We’ll attend.
He wrote back:
I’m glad. Vanessa is looking forward to meeting you.
We.
He did not notice the word.
Two days before Christmas, Adrian’s mother called.
I had not spoken to her in eight years.
Her voice still carried the same polished caution.
