I knelt on the concrete and caught him.

He slammed into my chest.

He smelled of elementary school cafeteria food and dirt from the playground.

“You came home early,” Cody said.

“I had some extra leave to use up,” I said.

Haley came up the driveway more slowly.

She slid her big headphones down around her neck.

She stopped in front of me and tucked a lock of brown hair behind her left ear.