Cary was nodding.
“Six and almost three,” Shiloh said.
“I should have asked how old.”
“You’re not obligated.”
“Do you have photos?”
“Um...”Did she?She glanced down at her bag.
“It’s okay,” Cary said, looking apologetic. Awkward. “Sorry. I thought you’d want me to ask.”
“I guess I never do that—show pictures. Because I never know what to say when people showmepictures oftheirkids, and I’m a parent.”
“I usually say, ‘Well, look at that.’”
“That’s a good line.” Shiloh laughed. More naturally. “It’s not that my kids aren’t cute or something. They’re very cute—you’ll just have to take my word on it.”
“I do.” Cary was smiling again. His mouth was closed, and there were deep lines in his cheeks. He’d always had a face full of lines—in his cheeks, under his eyes, in his forehead. Even in high school. Like he had a little too much face for the space. Cary crinkled when he was happy and creased when he was angry.
He was so familiar to Shiloh.
Standingcloseto him was so familiar.
They could be standing by their lockers. Standing by his mom’s station wagon. Standing in line at a movie theater.
“It’s so weird to be talking to you,” Shiloh said. She tried to laugh when she said it—like,Isn’t it weird? Isn’t it funny?
Cary looked hurt. “It is?”
Shiloh felt her face fall. “It’s so weird to be talking to you,” she said again without laughing, “and not know, you know...anything.”
Cary pushed his tongue out over his bottom lip.
And not know everything,Shiloh thought.
A waitress swung around their table with a serving cart. She picked up two plates and looked at the elderly couple. “Chicken? Chicken?”
Shiloh looked at Cary. She had to make this less weird. This was their first conversation in fourteen years, and she didn’t want it to end like this. She didn’t want it toend. “Maybe we can catch up more...”
“Chicken?” The waitress was pointing at Shiloh.
“Yes,” Shiloh said, “thank you.”
“Chicken,” Cary said, raising his hand.
The waitress dropped two plates on the table in front of them.
Shiloh turned to him. “Don’t you have to sit at the head table?”
“No one will miss me,” he said.
“I think you probably get special food up there...”
“Special chicken?”
“And free beer.”
