e Fo

by a simple black mask and a silk scarf draped over my hair. I chose a seat in the back corner, a shadow

n my coat pocket. A

's? Hope she's feeling

takingly audacious, it almost made me l

stable. Focu

A single emoji: a cartoon kitt

s Kori Whitfield'

r signal. A little secret sign, right under

p, and didn't reply. Let him think I was th

soft pink cashmere sweater and a flowing white skirt. Her hair was down, styled in soft waves. Sh

er hand and expose her right then and there, was a physical force. But I held back. My father' s word

me to Northwood's first-grade Parent-Teacher Night. It's so wonderful to see all of you. As a

tal involvement. I watched her, a detached observer at a train w

"And on that note," she said, a blush creeping up her neck, "I have a little p

hrough the crow

pride, "I'm so happy his father could join us to prese

toward the entrance. A wave

here

onation. He was wearing the tailored suit I' d bought him for our anniversary and the expensive watc

n who made my

combed by me each morning, was damp and stuck to his forehead. His cheeks were flush

is eyes were darting around the ro

r me. I wanted to run to him, to snatch him out of Ja

I gripped the seat. Not yet. Not until they had climbed all th

d devoted partner. He led Ben to the front r

tured toward the stage. "I just want to say how proud I am of Kori. She's

hough soft, carried in the quiet ro

g his face in Jaxon' s sid

s voice small but clear

and. "Wait, I thought Ben's mom was that woman who

went white. She looked at Jaxon, her eyes

riumph, and our seven-ye