Boston.
Architecture, despite Ethan spending years warning him that architects worked too much.
“I can stay another week.”
“No.”
“You say that like you want me gone.”
“I absolutely do.”
Noah smiled.
Then became quiet.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you scared?”
Ethan almost lied.
“No.”
Noah looked at him.
Ethan sighed.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Why good?”
“Means you’re normal.”
“I hate the way therapy has made you speak.”
“You paid for it.”
“Another mistake.”
Noah laughed.
Then touched the star.
“Can I ask something?”
“Always.”
“If I hadn’t seen this…”
He pointed.
“What?”
“The necklace. The floor.”
Ethan knew.
“What would have happened?”
He thought about it.
Vivian’s theft might eventually have surfaced.
Maybe not.
Caleb Ross might never have confessed.
Daniel Sloane might have retired comfortably.
Cole Development might have continued carrying hidden liabilities.
Ethan might have spent the rest of his life believing Rachel planned to leave him.
Noah might have grown up hearing a sanitized version.
Your mother loved you, but she and Dad were having problems.
A lie wearing the clothes of kindness.
“I don’t know.”
Noah nodded.
“Do you ever wish I hadn’t found it?”
Ethan looked at him sharply.
“No.”
“Even with Grandma?”
“Yes.”
“The company?”
“Yes.”
“Everything?”
Ethan smiled.
“The truth cost a lot.”
“So?”
“So did the lie.”
Noah considered.
Then nodded.
The following morning Ethan drove his son to Boston.
They argued about music.
Stopped twice for coffee.
Noah complained that Ethan drove too slowly.
Ethan complained that Noah’s generation believed speed limits were suggestions.
When they reached the university, Ethan helped carry boxes upstairs.
His son’s roommate arrived with three suitcases and a mother who immediately began reorganizing both beds.
Noah leaned toward Ethan.
“If you ever do that, I’m transferring.”
Ethan laughed.
“I learned my lesson about controlling mothers.”
Noah winced.
“Too dark.”
“Sorry.”
They unpacked.
Eventually there was nothing left to do.
That was the part Ethan had dreaded.
Noah stood beside the dorm entrance.
The star necklace was visible above his T-shirt.
Ethan looked at it.
“You don’t have to wear that all the time.”
“I know.”
“It’s valuable.”
“I know.”