it,” he said. “I promise. But Dad always said you don’t wait to help.”

Those words drained every bit of anger from me.

Darren had said that constantly. When a neighbor’s car refused to start. When someone spilled a bag of groceries. Even when we were already running behind.

“You don’t wait to help someone in need, Carina.”

I wrapped Eli tightly in my arms.

“Your dad would be proud of you,” I whispered.

He went still. “Are you?”

That almost shattered me.

“Yes,” I said. “I’m proud of you too.”

I helped him change into dry clothes and made him hot cocoa with far too many marshmallows. He sat at the kitchen table, his hands curled around the mug.

“Do you think she’ll bring it back?” he asked. “I told her where we live.”

“I don’t know, hon. But