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“Wanted to thank you.” He says it loudly enough for the next table. “Properly. In person.”

The man looks toward me.

“You must be Astrid.”

“Yes.”

“Good to meet you. Your husband saved me another trip to that damn school.”

I do not move.

Colt says, “You didn’t have to mention it.”

The man laughs.

“You call a man at his business about his kid, he’s going to mention it.”

The auction table presses against the back of my hand.

I keep it there.

“When was this?” I ask.

“Thursday. Called me at the office.” He keeps smiling. “I’ll be honest, I didn’t love it. But when Colt Riley calls about your kid in this town, you handle it. So I handled it.”

Thursday.

Tova came home Thursday and said almost nothing to me about school.

Colt made dinner.

We sat at the same table. He asked me about my day and let me talk through all of it. I remember thinking he was being kind.

“My kid said something stupid. It’s done.” He looks at me when he says the next part. “Anyway. Appreciate it.”

Colt’s attention is on me now. He says something to the man that I do not hear clearly enough to remember.

The man leaves.

“Astrid.”

I look at Colt.

“Not here.”

His jaw shifts.

Silas reaches us.

“There you are. Hartley wants the veteran table near the stage before the video.”

I take my phone from my bag.

There are ninety-three minutes left in the gala.

I know because I check.

The video plays.