his face, I tried to pivot to a lighter possibility. I didn’t want his birthday to be clouded by the absence of a man who didn’t deserve his thoughts. “Maybe it’s a teacher who saw something special in you, or perhaps an old friend of mine who’s playing the world’s longest, kindest prank.”
To break the tension, I added a bit of practical humor. “Besides, there is money included every single year. Knowing what I know about your father, he wouldn’t be the type to give away a cent, even
