“Noah,” she said sweetly, though her fingers gripped too tightly. “You need to finish your piano practice.”
“But Grandma just got here.”
“Practice. Now.”
His smile vanished.
The look he gave me was enough to undo every ounce of control I had.
“It’s all right, sweetheart,” I said softly. “I’ll see you soon.”
He walked away slowly, shoulders low.
Vivienne led me to the living room and sat on the ivory sofa I had purchased for them after their basement flooded two years earlier. Adrian stood near the fireplace, staring at the floor like a man hoping cowardice could pass for neutrality.
