Marybeth
I knew something was wrong the second Eli got into the car. Not visibly wrong. Nothing dramatic. He smiled when he saw me. Climbed into the passenger seat with his backpack half-open and immediately started talking about some game they had played during recess.
Normal. Mostly. But there was a strange hesitation underneath it. Like his mind kept circling back to something else.
I waited until we pulled away from the school before asking casually, “How was your day?”
“Good.” That answer came too fast. Mothers noticed those things.
“Just good?” I glanced sideways at him briefly.
“I got an A on my spelling test.” He changed the subject.
“That sounds better than good.” I was impressed.
“Mmhm.” He hummed, still distracted.
“What else happened today?” I tightened my hands sligh
