I studied his face. Same kid. Different weight behind his eyes.
“Go before I start yelling again.”
“Good,” I said. “Because I can’t take another night like this.”
He nodded. “You won’t.”
The officer cleared his throat near the door. “Ma’am. I’m Nate. I’m sorry for the fear. This was Grant’s idea.”
Sarah pointed at him without looking. “Go before I start yelling again.”
Nate gave a quick nod and disappeared.
The room exhaled.
Grant sat beside me, still in uniform.
Jason clapped his hands once, like he could reset the whole night. “Okay. Food. Now.”
Mark grabbed plates. Caleb lifted warmers. Eliza handed me water like I’d just run a race.
Sarah hovered, then finally said, “Sit. You sit.”
