“He made us think Dad gave up,” Sophie said.

She stopped at the edge of the grass.

“For six years I thought Dad just took the boat out and quit caring about us.”

“So did I, sweetheart,” I said.

We went over to a green wooden park bench facing the empty gazebo.

I sat down and took the enlarged photo out of my canvas bag.

The paper felt thick and cool under my fingertips.

In the hush of late afternoon, the town felt slow and small.