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Not totime

“I didn’t see you today when I stopped by the shelter” Ralph s heavy silver braces on his teeth, bless his heart “Did you catch a ride with Daniel and Grayson?”

Ralph’s the only one of our friends who calls us by our regular naroup

“I left early to take a shower” I love my job at the animal shelter, but I didn’t want to sht from the airport Danny’s been here since Tuesday”

The serenade ends, and party guests immediately mob my brother and his best friend Gray’s head rises above the crowd He’s s, but every few seconds, his eyes findwave of promise

He inspectsheat in their wake I’ for him to move away, toward the dark hall at the back of the room

“Did you hear me?”

I force my attention to Ralph “I’m sorry?”

“Mother said her ladies group is having a special luncheon for Daniel after church on Sunday I’m supposed to invite you” Ralph’s brown eyes cast to the side “She said to bring your dad, but I figured—”

“Danny leaves Sunday afternoon” As I say the words, my heart sinks, because Gray will leave with him

“It’ll be right after church in the fellowship hall To say goodbye She said your grandmother would’ve wanted it”

“I’ll s for the sake of randparents, the Oakville Harrises You’d think ere royalty…

Except the Harris fortune has been disappearing since I was a child My dad doesn’t work, he drinks all the time, which means we’re nearly broke Pretty much all we have now is an old name, this lake house, the old house in town, and a few “priceless” antiques

“In other news” Ralph straightens, tugging on his waistband “I took a job with pest control, so I’ll be visiting the clinic pretty regularly Maybe we can go out to lunch sometime”

I see Gray drift to the back hall My stoht, and I clock the a unwanted attention