“Jason, this is—”
I never finished.
Richard stopped walking.
It happened so suddenly that at first I thought he had become dizzy.
Then I saw his face.
All the color had disappeared.
He stared at my son.
Jason stared back.
Neither spoke.
The sounds of the barbecue seemed to fade around us.
“Richard?”
He stepped backward.
“I need to go.”
I laughed nervously because I couldn’t understand what was happening.
“What?”
“I shouldn’t be here.”
He turned toward the driveway.
I grabbed his arm.
“You’ve been worried about meeting him for weeks. At least say hello.”
Richard looked at Jason again.
