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Shit.

“When were you going to tell me, Denton?”

The words it’s no big deal rest on the edge of my tongue, but that would be a lie. This photoshoot could be huge for me.

“I just wanted to make it through the funeral.”

Mati’s silence speaks volumes.

“When do you leave?” Her voice lowers even more, and I don’t want to imagine it, but I think I hear sadness in her tone. Would she want me to stay? The question sends a shiver up my spine. I can’t stay here.

“The funeral will probably be in two days with the wake tomorrow evening. I’ll leave the day after.”

Mati gasps. “What about Magnolia?”

Magnolia, I sigh. My grandmother is one of the many things Dolores and I will need to discuss.

“I’ll have to talk to Dolores.”

Mati doesn’t respond again.

“Look, I hate to go, but I need to find Dolores. We have so much to do today.”

“Of course. Yes. Sure, you should go. Go, go,” she states as if shooing a fly, or giving into the resolve—she wants me to leave.