When he was little—before his parents married—Chris used to come visit them in Chicago, where his mom was going to med school. He and Chris used to spend a day together. They’d go to the park in the morning, have lunch at a restaurant, then they’d go back to the apartment, where Chris would sit him down at the piano for a two-to-three-hour lesson. Even though Chris wasn’t a pianist, he was a musician and knew brilliance in any instrument.

He was one of the best teachers that Gabe had ever had.

After his parents got married and they moved to New York, things rapidly went downhill and escalated into chaos. No one could live with that man full-time.

“I’ll talk to your dad,” Gabe told her. “And stop worrying about me. I can take care of myself. I’ve been doing it all my life.”

A few more kids started to filter in.

Gabe got up. “I’ll help you set up the chairs.”

Hannah put her hand on his shoulder. “Don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad, I’m just…” His jaw was clenched so hard, his teeth ached. “Sometimes…the enormity of what happened just hits me, drags me under like this giant wave…and it’s just real hard to stay afloat ’cause the water keeps coming and coming and coming. And every time you surface and you catch your breath, there’s still another giant wave to deal with.” He faced her. “I have so much rage inside of me.” He realized he was scaring her and he forced out a smile. “But then it passes and I’m fine.”

She let her hand slide from his shoulder. “You don’t have to be happy, Gabe. What you’re going through sucks.”

“I’ll be fine.”

She studied his face. “You know, that’s why you don’t judge people on first impressions. You’re real good-looking and you’re really gifted and all the girls in the school keep pestering me about you. And the boys all ask about you because you come across as this real cool guy with this swagger.”

“I don’t swagger.”

“Yes, you do.”

Gabe laughed. “My father swaggers. I don’t swagger.”

“Yes, you do.”

Mrs. Kent’s voice broke through the debate. “Decker, you have plenty of time to flirt after choir. Now kindly set up the chairs.”

“Right away.” She took a pack of folding chairs and began to set them up. To Gabe, she said, “I’m not a cougar. I don’t flirt with young boys.”

“I know. That’s what I like about you. You’re very…like…sisterly with me.”

“That’s me.” Hannah sighed. “I’m everyone’s perennial big sister.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I’m just teasing you, Gabe.”

“I mean I think you’re very pretty.”

Hannah was grinning. “You can stop now.”