He was looking for a gift, too, something she lingered over and seemed to want for herself, which was why, when his phone finally went silent for half an hour, he was relieved. He thought maybe Lois had finally exhausted her efforts, but they’d just entered a shop like a Williams-Sonoma when his phone went off again.

Irritated to think she was back, he almost answered it just so he could tell her not to bother him, that he’d get back to her when he was good and ready.

Except this time, it was his mother.

Tia was a few feet away, examining some trees made out of mirrors. “Aren’t these gorgeous?” she said.

He didn’t have a chance to respond. He signaled that he’d be outside and answered his mother’s call as he passed through the door. “Are you checking in about the assembly tomorrow?” he asked without preamble. “If so, you don’t have to worry. I’ll be there.”

“I was actually calling about something else,” she said.

“What is it?”

“Lois Ivey just left my office.”

“She was at the school?”

“She said she’s been trying to reach you but you won’t speak to her.”

“It’s not that I won’t speak to her. I’m still trying to decide how I feel about the whole thing and what I’m going to do about it. What do you think I should do?”

“I’m still so angry over what she did that I’m tempted to say you should let it run its course. Maybe it’ll teach her a good lesson.”

“Wow! This is coming from you? You’re the most forgiving person I know.”

“Not when someone threatens you,” she said.

His own mother hadn’t done much to protect him, but Aiyana had always been a fierce defender. “I guess I’ll call the police and try to get them to back off,” he said. “She’s already lost her daughter. And having to pay Graham’s gambling debts—or face bankruptcy—won’t be easy.”

“That’s nice of you, son.”

“It’s what you would do,” he said with a laugh.

“I guess you’re right. Like you say, the Iveys have already lost a daughter. And the gambling debts might be a problem. But it’s even worse than that.”

“Worse? How?”

“They might not realize it yet, but they’ve also lost a son—one who would’ve continued to be good to them if only they had treated him fairly.”

As Seth watched a group of carolers set up across the street, he realized that his mother was right. He was going to do everything he could to get the police to let the Iveys go.

But then he was going to walk out of their lives for good.

Twenty-Six

Friday, December 24

“What do you think?” Seth asked Aiyana.