“She’s already shown her true colors over the last year. I’m not sure she could look uglier to me at this point.”
“Understood. Let me get on this. I’ll be in touch, Kendrick.”
“Thank you, Manny. Talk soon.”
“Soon,” he agrees and hangs up.
For a minute, I stare out the window at the flags in the breeze. I remember when we raised the first dozen flags beside the single Pride flag. It had been an announcement that we’d put out via the campus newsletter. Back in the days before apps. I’d expected maybe a handful of people to watch, but damn near the entire school showed up to raise the flags.
It wasn’t meant to be a ceremony as we removed the US flag and the state flag for relocation, so this one spot was dedicated to our own community. Every time I question whether what I’m doing here is making an impact, I turn around to look at those flags and remember everyone who showed up at that event.
Afterward, a young woman came up to me with tears in her eyes as she looked at the flags overhead and said, “I know this seems like such a small thing but seeing them replace the flag of oppression toward us feels like it’s giving us permission to be proud. We’re going to exist and thrive despite the lawmakers of this country trying to keep us silent and invisible.”
A version of her words is now on a plaque in front of the flags.
My cell phone rings, and I grin when I see Brevan’s name. “Hey, Brev.”
“Kendrick,” he says, sounding breathless.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I just… my agent called. The NFL has invited me to attend the draftin personnext month. In person!”
I grin. “That’s amazing.”
“I think it means someone wants me on their team. Why else would they invite me, right?”
“Sounds like it.”
“It’s all paid for, too. Travel, meals, lodging—all of it. I’m shaking, Kendrick. I’m sorry I called. I know I probably shouldn’t.”
“You can call me anytime. I’m excited to share your joys, sweetheart. I can’t wait to celebrate tonight.”
“I’m so excited. I can’t catch my breath.”
I chuckle, but pride fills my chest. “I’m so proud of you, Brevan. That’s a big deal.”
His breathing is heavy as he tries to catch his breath. I can’t wait to take him in my arms tonight.
My cell phone makes a weird sound, and it has me pulling it away from my head. A bar across the top of my screen reads, ‘Incoming video call Seth Keller-Navarro, Briar Keller-Navarro, Tabitha Keller-Navarro.’ My stomach drops.
“Sweetheart, I have to go. I’ll call you in a bit, okay?”
“Okay.”
I hang up and accept the video. We don’t have a group chat anywhere that I remember, so I can’t imagine that it’s an accidental call. I’m the last to pick up, and all three of my kids’ faces look at me. I wish I were on a larger screen so I could see them more clearly.
“I told you he’d answer,” Seth says.
“It’s the middle of the day,” Tabitha argues. “He’s at work. It’s reasonable to think that he can’t.”
“I’m here,” I assure them. “What’s wrong? Seth, your apartment?”
Seth smiles a little. “I didn’t have much on the floor except a blanket that fell from my bed and some shoes. My bedroom door was closed, so while there was water in my room, it wasn’t as much as what had been in the rest of the apartment. We’ve been moved out while the pipes are fixed.”
“Tell Dad who’s paying for damages,” Briar says, frowning.
Seth sighs. “I don’t know who’s paying.”
