He straightened his posture. “Their parents are already on the way, and the boys are suspended from activities until we finish the review. And we’ll start something bigger.”
I nodded. “Good.”
I looked back at Jenna. “And if you’re comfortable, the fund stays in Jonathan’s name.”
She pressed the tissue to her mouth and nodded. “I’d be honored.”
Letty stared at me. “You sound like Daddy.”
The words struck me squarely in the ribs.
Out in the hallway, I opened Jonathan’s envelope.
“Piper,
If you’re reading this, one of the guys kept a promise for me.
I know you. By now you’ve carried too much and told everybody you’re fine.
You were the brave one long before I got sick.
If Letty ever does something that breaks your heart open in the good way, don’t close it again out of fear.
Let people love you.
— Jon”
I folded the letter and held it against my chest.
Outside the school, the air felt sharp and clean. Jenna was standing by the curb with Millie, one hand resting between her daughter’s shoulders as if she was afraid to stop touching her.
Ik ging eerst over.
‘Diner vanavond,’ zei ik.
Jenna knipperde. ‘Wat?’
‘Je komt langs.’ Ik keek Millie aan. “Geen argumenten. Ik ken elke truc om iemand te voeden die zegt dat hij geen honger heeft. Ik werd er heel goed in.”
Jenna’s eyes filled again. “Piper…”
“I’m serious.”
Millie looked at Letty. “Can I have dinner at your house too?”
Letty gave her a small smile. “Only if you don’t hide in the bathroom anymore.”
Millie glimlachte terug. “Alleen als je stopt met het knippen van je eigen haar zonder toezicht.”
‘Dat is eerlijk.’
Jenna lachte door haar tranen, en iets in ons alle vier maakte los.
Op de rit naar huis hield Letty de harde hoed van Jonathan in haar schoot. ‘Denk je dat papa vandaag zou hebben gehuild?’
Ik glimlachte door een andere golf van tranen. “Absoluut. Dan zou hij erover gelogen hebben.’
Jonathan was niet bij ons teruggekomen. Maar op de een of andere manier, vanwege onze dochter, had zijn liefde nog steeds.
