« Ready for Christmas dinner, sweetheart? »
« Starving. »
She laughed and helped him into his navy winter coat.
I kissed the top of his head.
« I’ll see you there soon. »
« Don’t work too hard, Dad. »
I watched him leave.
I had no idea that within two hours, I’d regret letting him go ahead without me.
The drive from Manhattan to Westfield was surprisingly easy.
I expected traffic.
Instead, the roads were clear enough that I reached Daniel’s neighborhood nearly forty minutes ahead of schedule.
His house looked beautiful.
White Christmas lights traced the roofline. Evergreen garlands framed the porch. Candles glowed behind the windows.
Cars filled the driveway.
I could see silhouettes moving through the dining room, people talking and laughing.
But as I walked toward the house, something seemed wrong.
I couldn’t see Ethan.
Usually, he was easy to spot at family gatherings.
He tended to sit near his cousins, listening more than talking.
