Chapter 2“THE GUY AT THE ANTIQUES store said it was made in the 1890s,” Braden announced as he presented the old phone to his stepfather. “As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to get it for you. I thought it would fit in great with your other stuff downstairs.”
“It will,” his mother said. “It’s really neat. What do you say, Leon? Isn’t that one neat old phone?”
Leon sat back in his chair, considering the coffin telephone. They’d eaten dinner and devoured half a cake between the four of them before Braden and Ali went out to the car to bring in the big surprise. Braden had been so excited about it he’d wanted to present it to his stepfather the moment they arrived. He couldn’t wait until Father’s Day.
But tradition dictated that gifts always followed cake, so he’d at least waited un
