I nudged him with my elbow. “Eat, Officer Trouble.”
Mark tried to cut the cake neatly and failed.
He gave a shaky laugh. “Yes, ma’am.”
As we ate, the tension loosened. Mark tried to cut the cake neatly and failed. Jason told a story that made no sense and somehow made everyone laugh, anyway.
Sarah leaned toward me and whispered, “I really am sorry.”
“I know,” I said. “Just don’t let ‘busy’ turn into ‘gone.’”
Her eyes shone. “Okay.”
His shoulders sagged and he smiled.
Later, when the balloons started drooping, Grant leaned in.
“My graduation ceremony is next week. I saved you a seat.”
“Next week,” I repeated.
He nodded, proud and nervous at the same time. “Will you come?”
I looked at him. My wild one. My hardest one. My son in a uniform, trying.
“Yes,” I said. “I’ll be there.”
One by one, they nodded.
