After we arrived in the park, Chel and Missy rode their bikes and played while I worked on my laptop. As soon as the sun started setting, the chilled air forced Missy and her mom to say their good byes. Chel kicked some leaves that tumbled on the ground. I threw the laptop in my book bag and pushed my daughter’s bike. My daughter’s hair disheveled, she hummed a tune she and Missy sang earlier. As we walked, the trees stood bare-leaved, naked.
“Chel, you wanna grab some ice cream now?” She nodded and took off, skipping across the park to the corner shop. “Stop!” I yelled. “Wait for me before we cross.”
She shrieked, “Uncle Noah!”
I saw a shadow coming toward us. A figure stepped from the restaurant’s awnings, slightly obscured. In a second, I saw Noah’s tall frame. The setting sun’s dark
