“You’re not failing us, Adam,” I said, feeling the tightness in my spine ease just a little under the weight of his hands.

“Think about it,” he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to the side of my face.

“Just think about it for one night.

For our family.”

He gave my shoulders a single squeeze, let go and walked out toward the stairs in the hallway.

I sat by myself at the kitchen table for an hour, watching the chocolate frosting slowly set on the forgotten cake plate.

At exactly ten o’clock, a sudden loud metal bang came up through the floorboards from the basement.