I tried to laugh.
“Sometimes she gets confused.”
Marcus nodded.
But his eyes never met mine.
“Of course.”
Then he took one step backward.
“I need a minute.”
And walked away.
THAT WASN’T EMBARRASSMENT
I gave Sophie a lemon square and left her with Mrs. Peterson from accounting.
Then I stood near the dessert table trying to convince myself nothing strange had happened.
A grieving child saw something familiar.
That was all.
Except Marcus had reacted like a guilty man.
His face hadn’t shown surprise.
It had shown recognition.
As if Sophie had somehow spoken the exact sentence he had feared hearing.
So I went looking for him.
He was standing near the pergola with Benjamin, his business partner.
I slowed before reaching them.
Benjamin was laughing.
“So you’re really doing it?”
Marcus said something I couldn’t hear.
“The whole second floor?”
Benjamin continued.
“You’re rebuilding all that space for a family?”
