p, unwelcome sound that cut through

groaning under my weight, trying to rest

" a hesitant

es

volving your son, Alex. You

t away. Alex was out, delivering food on his scooter,

y clothes. My first thought was J

umber. Straigh

e's been an accident.

again. V

in. Voi

s she? Her night shift at the diner, she sai

ord. The ride to City General was a blur of fl

g, met me. His face told me e

Miller. Alex... h

brilliant boy. Valedictor

said. While he w

a cold, hard

ca. I called a

's gone. Please, where

aduation thing, maybe she stopped by after her shift. She' d mentioned

I was desperate. I took

have looked a mess, my work clothes rumpled, my

man at the desk if there

e. "The Hamilton party is in

ica' s high school sweetheart, the one s

m. Music, laughter, the clin

en I s

ss

wearing a shimmering dress, diamonds at her

ooking teenager, Jake, Ethan' s s

wasn't a quick stop after work

as Jessica handed Jake a small,

le parked just outside the ballroom's terra

loud enough for me to hear. "And this," she han

nd. Her voicemail message p

here, celebrating, gifting a lux