Page 125 of My Family

"When we visited Harry's dad, he kept talking about you like you were dead."

"Jack!" Ethan says, mortified.

"What?!"

Diana laughs again.

"Not dead, though his dad almost killed me by being so boring. We just got a divorce. I moved to Texas. But I told that old dog I'd be the one visiting."

"You thought my mom was dead, asshole?" Harry asks.

Jack bursts out laughing, and we all do too.

"I mean, half of us have dead parents. Liam's mom, my dad, Ethan's… well, theirs are figuratively dead."

Jack's so funny that we're all laughing nonstop.

"Diana Westfield," Harry's mother says, extending a manicured hand to the nearest adult, which happens to be Marie. "So lovely to meet Harry's friends."

Marie takes her hand, looking slightly dazed.

"Marie Farley. These are my nephews, Ethan and Tyler."

Diana works her way around the table, shaking hands with each adult and giving polite nods to us residents.

When she reaches Vikki, there's a brief moment where I think she might not extend the same courtesy, but she does, though her smile tightens a fraction.

"Ms. Sparks, the art teacher, right?" Diana says. "Harry mentioned… you."

"Harry has a good eye for composition," Vikki says diplomatically, ignoring what mentioned you might mean. "When he actually does the assignments."

Harry rolls his eyes but doesn't argue.

He pulls up another chair and sits down, his mother taking the spot beside him.

The barbecue continues around us.

Families come and go.

The sun begins its slow descent toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the yard.

Eventually, the announcement will come that visiting hours are ending.

We'll say our goodbyes.

My dad will promise to come back soon.

And for the first time, I'll believe him.

Chapter 37. Liam

The kitchen at night is different, and I shouldn't be here.

I know it.

Everybody does.

Lu is at the inventory shelf, standing on a step stool. I think her shift is about to end.