Later, while a few of us were folding up the last of the rental tables on the lawn, my uncle Ernesto — my father’s younger brother — drifted over to me near the shed, and spoke without quite meeting my eyes.

“Did you step out into the hallway last night?” he asked, low.

I was caught off guard.

“Why do you ask?”

He glanced around before he answered.

“Because I heard the side door to your father’s room unlatch.