He checked his watch, went back to his sedan, and drove home without a sound.

At ten o’clock Sunday morning sunlight spread across the kitchen island.

Michael stood at the stove and flipped a third buttermilk pancake onto a ceramic plate.

He put a little pat of butter on top.

He brought the warm plate around the counter and set it in front of Noah.

The forty-five-dollar blue plastic booster seat squeaked against the wood as Noah shifted.

Derek sat across from them on a wooden stool.