The room went silent.
Renee stared at him.
Miles continued:
“You keep acting like because I looked like him, I still had him.”
His voice cracked.
“I didn't.”
Renee began sobbing.
Miles shook his head.
“I woke up after Dad died and forgot for like five seconds.”
“Every morning.”
“I would think he was downstairs.”
“Then remember.”
He wiped his face angrily.
“Nobody gave me more Dad.”
“They gave me his old stuff.”
“That is not the same.”
Renee looked shattered.
“No.”
She whispered.
“It isn't.”
Miles pointed toward Darius.
“And giving him my stuff didn't give him Dad either.”
Darius stared at the letter.
“No.”
It did not.
That realization changed him.
The sneakers suddenly became small.
Not unimportant.
Small beside years of adults trying to redistribute grief like household money.
Walter sat again.
“What else?”
Renee looked up.
“What?”
“What else did you move between them?”
She stared.
“Walter.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“We are not leaving this table with another glove hidden in somebody’s closet.”
Darius stood.
“I want to know too.”
Renee looked trapped.
Good.
Not because anyone wanted punishment.
Because secrets had become the family’s furniture.
Everyone was tired of walking around them.
She began listing.
The baseball glove.
Miles's headphones at Christmas.
A blue winter jacket Walter bought for Miles that Renee decided Darius could use longer because he had stopped growing.
A $300 birthday check from Marcus's old business partner.
Miles blinked.
“What check?”
Renee's face fell.
She had forgotten that one.
Walter looked furious.
“What check?”
“When Miles turned eleven.”
“Who sent it?”
“Anthony.”
Walter stood.
“Anthony Greene sent him money?”
“Yes.”
“What did you do with it?”
“Darius had tournament fees.”
Darius slammed his palm against the table.
“No!”
Everyone jumped.
He stared at his mother.
“You told me Uncle Reggie paid that.”
Renee cried.
“I didn't want you feeling guilty.”
Darius laughed.
“You keep saying that!”
He pointed at Miles.
“You didn't want me feeling guilty, so you made him think nobody gave him anything?”
Renee had no answer.
Darius walked away from the table.
Then came back.
“No.”
He looked at Miles.
“Come upstairs.”
Miles frowned.
“What?”
“Come on.”
They left the kitchen.
Renee started to follow.
Walter stopped her.