Noah came downstairs when he heard his name.
“I’m Aaron,” he said.
“I know.”
He glanced toward our garage.
“Is Noah home?”
Noah came downstairs when he heard his name.
Aaron swallowed.
Noah didn’t say anything at first.
“My dad passed last night.”
Noah didn’t say anything at first.
Then he asked, “Was he alone?”
“No. Claire and I were there.”
Noah nodded once.
I realized Mr. Vance had known more people than I thought.
“Okay.”
Aaron looked almost confused by his reaction.
Then Noah said, “When’s the funeral?”
We went three days later.
The church was crowded enough that I realized Mr. Vance had known more people than I thought.
Aaron and his sister, Claire, sat in front.
When the service ended, everyone stood.
Both of them cried through most of the service.
Noah insisted on sitting in the last row.
“This is family stuff,” he whispered.
