"I should take a backup," Dylan said.
"That's the one," said Truett, in a tone of voice that ended the discussion.
Oren retrieved his hat. Truett shook his hand and then mine, and when he took my hand he held it a moment longer and said, more quietly, "You go on home for Christmas, Greta. Life's short. My sister and I didn't talk for nineteen years over a boat. A boat. And then she died. I'd give a lot to have that boat argument back."
I said, "Okay," because I couldn't say anything else, and Bryn, Head Elf, appeared at my elbow and said, "Exit's that way, please keep it moving," and the next family surged forward, and we were out.
We stood by the photo kiosk while Dylan printed the deluxe package, which turned out to mean two five-by-sevens, four wallet-sized, a digital file, and a cardboard frame with glitter on it that said MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM RIVERBEND COMMONS. Oren took the frame and one of the five-by-sevens. He handed me the other five-by-seven.
"I can't take that," I said. "It's your mother's."
"My mother gets the digital file. She prints her own on the good paper at the Walgreens. She's very particular." He held it out. "Take it. You earned it. You're in it."
I took it. I looked at it. "My eyes are closed."
"So are Truett's. I look like I'm being electrocuted. It's perfect." He took out his phone. "I'll send you the file, if you want. What's your number?"
I gave him my number, and I watched him type it, and I watched him type my name, and I watched him hesitate and then add, after my name, a little emoji of a horse, which I did not understand until later was the closest emoji he could find to a knight. The file arrived on my phone a moment later with a text that said: Thank you for your service.
"Your mother is going to have so many questions," I said.
"She's going to call me in four minutes," he said, "and I'm going to let it go to voicemail, and then I'm going to drive home and sleep for six hours and go to work." He put the phone away. "Good luck with your brother, Greta. I mean it. Bring a blanket."
"Thank you for catching it."