Mom was laughing, Dad rested his head against her shoulder, and I took this exact photo.
But now, every time I look at it, I realize there is almost no smile in my father’s eyes.
He had been acting strangely all evening.
Every few minutes, he checked his watch. Whenever his phone rang, he immediately looked at the screen and silenced it. At one point, I even saw him folding a piece of paper in the kitchen and quickly slipping it into his pocket when Mom walked in.
“What are you hiding?” Mom asked jokingly.
Dad smiled.
“After fifty-nine years, I’ve never been able to hide anything from you.”
Mom laughed.
But I noticed that Dad’s hand was trembling.
When the guests began leaving, he called me into the hallway.
“Emily, be here tomorrow morning at nine.”
“Why?”
He glanced toward the living room, where Mom was clearing the table.
