Chapter 16
Sunday morning, Gavin drops Evie off at the church where Marian takes her. From the curb, he watches his daughter disappear into the school building, and waits until he sees her reappear in the window of her classroom. She waves to him once, then turns to a friend and he’s promptly forgotten. He drives to the end of the street, where there’s a little strip of stores with a Starbucks at one end. He orders a strong cappuccino, extra hot, and sips it while he grades papers.
An hour later, he’s back in the church parking lot, engine idling as Evie says her goodbyes. When she finally frees herself of her little friends and flounces over to his car, he climbs out to hold the back door open for her. “Have fun?” he asks.
“We learned a new song!” she cries. As he buckles her into her
