Marcus felt the change in his shoulders before his thoughts caught up.
The cruiser parked at the curb. Officer Aaron Blake stepped out alone.
He carried a bakery box.
Marcus walked toward the gate. Aaron looked uncomfortable.
“I can leave.”
“What’s in the box?”
“Peach cobbler.”
Marcus stared at him. “Rebecca send you?”
“She said it worked the first time.”
Marcus laughed despite himself. Aaron lifted the box.
“I wasn’t sure whether showing up would be inappropriate.”
“It probably is.”
“I figured.”
“You hungry?”
“Yes.”
Marcus opened the gate. “Come in.”
Nobody applauded. That would have ruined it.
Leon handed Aaron a plate. Jordan challenged him to cornhole.
Aaron lost badly. Naomi avoided him for nearly an hour.
That was her right. Later she spoke to him near the drink table.
Marcus deliberately did not listen. That conversation belonged to them.
At sunset, children ran across the lawn with water balloons. Marcus’s grandson hit him between the shoulders.
Marcus turned around. The boy immediately hid behind Naomi.
“Traitor.”
“He’s nine,” Naomi said.
“He knew exactly what he was doing.”
Everyone laughed.
Marcus carried a fresh plate toward the patio chair where Pierce had ordered him to sit the year before. He stopped for a moment.
Nothing marked the spot. Grass had grown.
The chairs were different. Life had no interest in preserving the location as a monument.
Naomi joined him. “Thinking about it?”
“Yes.”
“Still angry?”
“Sometimes.”
“Still scared?”
Marcus considered. “Less.”
They sat beside each other. Across the yard, Aaron was laughing at something Leon said.
A patrol cruiser passed on the street. It did not slow.
Marcus watched it disappear.
“I used to think the important part was Rebecca walking through the kitchen door,” he said.
Naomi looked toward the house. “Wasn’t it?”
“No.”
“What was?”
“The part before anyone knew what I did for a living.”
She waited.
Marcus lifted his fork. “I was already supposed to matter.”
Naomi smiled slowly. “That sounds like something I should put on a plaque.”
“Don’t.”
“I’m absolutely doing it.”
“Naomi.”