When the door finally opened, it was already too late.
His father had died from a sudden medical emergency.
“No one knows whether getting in sooner would’ve changed anything,” Frank said.
Liam stared at the floor.
“I know.”
Frank’s voice softened.
“Knowing and believing are different things, son.”
The green key rested in my palm.
Frank nodded toward it.
“Mine.”
“Why does Liam have it?”
“Because after his father died, I gave him one.”
Liam looked over.
“You were living alone.”
Frank shrugged.
“And you were 20-something and looked like you hadn’t slept in a month.”
“So you let him keep your key?” I asked.
Frank nodded.
“I thought it made him feel better.” He looked at Liam. “For a while, I think it did.”
I started remembering things.
Liam checking our spare key before vacations.
Giving the dog sitter two emergency numbers.
Replacing smoke-detector batteries long before they ever chirped.
