Chapter 14 — In Full Color

For New Year’s Eve, George and Ruth drove back down with gifts and a car full of food.

George gave Owen a thick book of famous chess matches. Ruth helped Zoe set the star on top of the little tree.

Jason came in the afternoon, with Claire’s permission, and made clay figures with Zoe and lost at chess to Owen and said his goodbyes at ten. On his way out he paused.

“I’ll pick them up tomorrow at noon,” he said.

“Noon,” Owen repeated back — the boy confirming the appointment, holding his father to it out loud, the way you pin down something you’ve decided to cautiously trust.

At the door, Jason looked at Claire.