“Do I have to go?” he asked.

“Absolutely not,” Julian said, without a half-second’s hesitation.

Lucas looked from his father to me, his eyes wide and searching.

“Will he be mad at me if I don’t?” And I knelt down in front of my son and took both of his small hands in mine and I held them, and I made sure he was looking at me.

“Sweetheart,” I said, “listen to me.