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right,” Jon said. “But don’t go without telling me. Let me know where I can find
     you.”
    “Of course we will,” Miranda said. Then she laughed. “The baby’s kicking. Here, Jon.
     Feel.” She put his hand on her belly, and he felt the movement that promised life.
    “Soccer player,” Jon said. “Takes after me.”
    For a moment they laughed, and for that moment they were a family again.

 
     
    Tuesday, May 12
     
    “He’s looking at her again,” Zachary said as they sat in the cafeteria.
    Ryan snapped his fingers in Jon’s face. “Earth to Evans,” he said. “Come in Evans.”
    “What the hell does that mean?” Luke asked.
    Ryan shrugged. “I don’t know,” he replied. “But my father says it sometimes.”
    “What?” Jon said. “What about your father?”
    “What about you?” Ryan said. “Why do you keep staring at Goldman that way? She isn’t
     even pretty.”
    “You could have any girl you want,” Luke said.
    “No, I can’t,” Jon said.
    “Okay, some of the girls won’t go out with you,” Luke admitted. “Their parents won’t
     let them. But most of the girls would, if you asked them. Instead, you keep staring
     at
her
.”
    Jon tried not to look at Sarah, who sat silent and alone, while the other students
     were laughing and talking. “You’d think she’d have friends by now,” he said.
    “No one likes her because of what she did to my grandfather,” Zachary declared.
    “She didn’t do anything to your grandfather,” Jon said.
    “She’s living in his house,” Zachary said angrily. “She’s worse than a slip.”
    “Look, Evans, if you feel sorry for her, be her friend,” Tyler said. “Go sit with
     her. Just don’t expect to sit with us again.”
    “Her or us,” Zachary said. “Get that, slip?”
    “I get it,” Jon said, and stayed where he was.

     
    Thursday, May 14
     
    “What’s going to happen Sunday?” Sarah asked Jon as they began their walk to the bus
     stop.
    “I have a soccer match,” Jon said. “In Longley. It’s about an hour, hour and a half
     from here.”
    “I mean Sunday night,” she said.
    “Some of our neighbors are having a party,” Jon said. “Carrie and Val will be in White
     Birch, so Lisa’s taking Gabe to the party with her.”
    “You can’t stay with him?” Sarah asked.
    “I’m going to White Birch after the match,” Jon replied. “Luke says it’s like Mardi
     Gras. The one chance a year we have to blow off steam. What about you? Will you be
     closing the clinic early?”
    “Daddy wanted to keep it open all night,” Sarah said. “In case anyone gets hurt from
     all that steam you’ll be blowing off. But the town board said no, it might give the
     grubs bad ideas. They’re making Daddy stay at the clinic anyway, in case some clavers
     get hurt.”
    “You’re not going to be there, are you?” Jon asked. “It can get pretty crazy that
     night.”
    “I’ll be home,” Sarah said. “Daddy won’t let me anywhere near White Birch on Sunday.
     Jon, you’re not going to do anything too crazy, are you?”
    Jon shook his head. “Just have some fun,” he said. “Then church and fasting on Monday.”
    “I hate anniversary day,” Sarah said. “I hate it so much.”
    “It’s just one day,” Jon said. “Then it’s back to normal.”
    “There’s no normal anymore,” Sarah replied. “Normal got lost four years ago. It’s
     never coming back.”
    “I know,” Jon said.
    “Oh, I’m sorry,” Sarah cried. “I know how lucky we are. How lucky I am. I just wish
     I could be luckier. Is that wrong of me, Jon? To wish I could be luckier?”
    Jon checked to see no one was around. Then he embraced her. “It’s not wrong,” he murmured.
     “It’s just not going to happen, that’s all.”

     
    Saturday, May 16
     
    “Matt gave me five quarters before he left,” Mom said. “He picks up whatever change
     he finds on the road when he’s biking. It’s amazing there are any coins left, but
     he