I laughed at first because I assumed this was another badly timed father joke.
Then I saw Daniel’s face.
He was serious.
“Daniel?”
“I’m sorry, but he needs to go.”
Maya tightened her grip on Evan’s hand.
“Dad, what is wrong with you? You haven’t even talked to him.”
“I know.”
That irritated me.
Daniel had spent years teaching Maya not to judge people based on clothes, hairstyles, tattoos, jobs, or money.
Now he was reacting to Evan before the boy had even had a chance to sit down.
“Daniel, enough.”
He never looked away from Evan.
“Sarah, please. Just trust me.”
Something in his voice made me stop.
Daniel wasn’t angry.
He looked frightened.
And somehow, Evan appeared to understand why.
The boy had hardly spoken.
He was studying Daniel with an expression I couldn’t read.
Maya turned toward him.
“Evan?”
He let out a slow breath.
“Okay. I guess we should deal with this.”
He reached into his pocket.
Daniel immediately said,
“Please don’t.”
The room became completely still.
Evan pulled out his phone anyway.
He tapped the screen, walked toward the table, and placed it in front of Daniel.
My husband looked down.
His expression changed instantly.
“Put that away.”
Evan stayed where he was.
I stepped closer.
“What is going on?”
