time to process.
“That’s… impressive.”
Neither boy answered.
Daniel’s eyes moved to me. “Why didn’t you tell me they were competing at this level?”
That question nearly made me laugh.
Not because it was funny.
Because it was so perfectly Daniel.
For thirteen years, he had built an empty space between himself and his sons, and now he was asking why I hadn’t mailed him a map across it.
“You didn’t know what school they attended until this morning,” I said quietly. “When exactly was I supposed to start sending you competition schedules?”
His face tightened.
“Claire, that’s not fair.”
Eli’s expression changed at those words.
I felt him shift beside me, but he stayed silent.
Before I could answer, Mason stepped closer.
He wasn’t looking at Daniel.
He was staring at Eli’s badge.
“Wait,” he said. “You’re Eli Mercer?”
Eli looked surprised. “Yeah.”
Mason turned toward Owen. “And you’re
