“I can’t promise it never will. But the park is adding a safety cover to that handle.”

“What if Sailor comes?”

“She won’t be invited unless you want her there.”

“I don’t know.”

“You don’t have to decide tonight.”

As he leaned against me, my anger sharpened into something clearer. This had never really been about money. It was about an eight-year-old now wondering whether inviting his cousin had become dangerous.