Austin hoped that neither of his parents was ever that casual about their marriage. He hoped they wanted one marriage and were at this instant putting it back together.

He knew they weren’t.

Macey nodded and smiled and encouraged, as if she and Alice Yinson were sitting across from each other in a restaurant.

She still got sparks for you, Texas.

But what if his parents became strangers? What if they built new lives without him? What if they came to important decisions, and he didn’t know and wasn’t there?

The crazier he felt about Macey, the more he needed to go home and see what could be salvaged of his family.

Macey knew the buttons to push with sister Alice. “And you grew up right here, didn’t you?” said Macey. “Me too. I’m a native. My grandparents were born here, too. Still live here.”

Alice Yinson warmed. “Adam and I really wanted to teach in the town where we were born and grew up, but I can’t tell you how difficult it was getting jobs.”

Austin heard what Alice Yinson did not say out loud: It was hard to get a job because the school board went and hired people from out of town. Black ones.

He had not known silence was a weapon until this afternoon. We won’t talk, and it won’t exist. If the subject isn’t mentioned, it doesn’t count.

Connecticut and Shell Road had mastered the weapon well. Silence was as necessary as proper clothing or good grades.

How to make people uncomfortable: bring up race. People wanted to sit someplace else and wait till you came to your senses. He was as silent as the rest. Had he talked to anyone about Isaiah, Venita, Good Shepherd? No. Because the beginner friendships he had here would not stand up to the test of the world’s least acceptable topic: How do black and white kids get along?

Or don’t they?

“We were a very friendly faculty,” said Alice Yinson, “and Wade Sibley was welcomed with open arms.”

“I’m so glad to hear it,” said Macey. “What was Mr. Sibley like?”

“I hardly remember. He was there only one year, you see, and home economics was not in the same wing as science.”

“Did Mr. Devers share a science lab with Mr. Sibley?” asked Macey.

“Yes. Shared a desk, too.”

“Can we reach Mr. Devers?” asked Macey.

“We didn’t divorce. He died.”

“I’m so sorry,” said Macey.

“Don’t be. It was umpty-ump years ago, and I’ve had two husbands since.”

Austin was finding this woman unbearable.

Macey said, “Your brother Pete told me you called in the fire.”

“Oh, my goodness, the fire. I haven’t thought of that in years.”