Chapter 4

The countdown reached one, but the family montage stayed black.

June and I watched from the parked car as the broadcast cut back to the studio. Evan was still smiling, but one hand gripped his cue cards hard enough to bend them.

His cohost stepped forward.

“We’re going straight to our tree-lighting ceremony,” she said. “Noah, are you excited to light the tree with Evan tonight?”

Noah looked toward his mother before answering.

“June practiced it,” he said. “Mom said she wasn’t coming, so I’m supposed to do her part.”

The cohost’s smile tightened.

“Was June originally scheduled to be…