Then back at Darius.
“Marcus left enough for the Carolina Elite summer program.”
Darius stared.
“That’s six thousand dollars.”
“I know.”
“You have that?”
“Set aside.”
Renee looked stunned.
Walter continued reading.
“Also, if you are still wearing shoes until your toes poke through them because you say they are lucky, stop it.”
Darius laughed through tears.
Miles did too.
Marcus knew him.
Completely.
Walter finished:
“I love you.”
“I love your brother.”
“Do not turn that into math.”
“Love, Dad.”
Nobody spoke for a long time.
Then Miles whispered:
“Do I have a letter?”
Walter looked at him.
“Yes.”
“Today?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Walter reached into the birthday bag.
A second envelope.
MILES — 12.
Renee covered her mouth.
Miles stared.
Walter handed it to him.
He did not open it.
Not yet.
Instead he looked at his mother.
“Why?”
One word.
Renee wiped her face.
“Because I was scared.”
Miles shook his head.
“That doesn't answer.”
“No.”
She swallowed.
“It doesn't.”
Walter's face hardened.
“Then tell the whole thing.”
Renee looked toward him.
“You want the whole thing?”
“Yes.”
She laughed through tears.
“Fine.”
Renee turned toward her sons.
“At your father's funeral, everybody talked about Miles.”
Miles froze.
Renee continued:
“Not everybody.”
“But enough.”
She looked toward Walter.
“Your grandfather stood in my kitchen two days after Marcus died and said, ‘I need to make sure Marcus's son is protected.’”
Walter lowered his eyes.
Darius became still.
Renee continued:
“Darius was sitting ten feet away.”
Walter whispered:
“I remember.”
“You should.”
Her voice sharpened.
“Because I watched his face.”
Darius looked toward his grandfather.
Walter did not defend himself.
Renee continued:
“Marcus's aunt asked whether the life insurance was being saved for ‘Marcus's child.’”
“His coworker started a college fund only for Miles.”
“People brought photographs of Marcus and Miles.”
“Someone literally told Darius, ‘At least you still have your biological father somewhere.’”
Darius whispered:
“I remember.”
Miles stared.
He had been ten.
Grief had swallowed the room so completely that he remembered almost nothing outside himself.
Renee looked at Darius.
“You stopped crying in front of everybody.”
“I knew you were still crying in your room.”
Her voice broke.
“I promised myself I would never let you feel second in your own house.”
Walter said quietly:
“And you made Miles second.”