When I got a clear look—it was Xander Lewis. “There was a meeting originally, wasn’t planning to come. But it got canceled last minute, so I thought I’d drop by,” he said as he stopped in front of me. His smile was distant but still polite as he greeted Cindy Clark. Cindy seemed about to say something, but Brian Carter had already walked over, pulling her aside to introduce the baby to other relatives. She walked around holding the baby, beaming while everyone showered her with compliments—said she was lucky to have a son, that the baby had the look of someone destined for great things. Cindy couldn’t stop smiling, smothering her son’s cheeks with kisses, clearly the picture of a proud mom. But something about the baby seemed off to me. He didn’t look as alert as earlier.

