When the chairman closed the meeting at eight, the parents crowded toward the double doors, talking about carpools and tuxedo fittings.

I got up, zipped my coat to my chin and waited by the trophy case in the hall until most of the crowd had gone outside.

Rory came out of the gym by himself, carrying a heavy stack of yellow folding chairs toward the narrow storage closet under the bleachers.

I stepped in front of him before he could push the wooden door open.

“Sadie needs her dress ordered this week, Rory,” I said quietly, so the two teachers packing up sports equipment nearby wouldn’t hear.