“The issue is you thinking you had the right to take them in the first place.”

My dad stayed completely still near the edge of the lawn, Noah resting quietly on his shoulder, though I knew what was waiting upstairs on our bedroom dresser: my dad’s official brass military pin sitting quietly beside his folded dress uniform cap.

Linda looked from Ethan to Richard, her breath coming in short, shallow bursts as she realized no one was backing her up.

“Fine,” Linda whispered, pulling her hand out of her pocket.