top of the collar and I couldn’t do it.
I called Jess.
She came into my bedroom. She was already dressed for work, in her scrubs.
She stopped in the doorway.
She looked at me in the dress blues. At the ribbons. At the gold stripes on the sleeve. At the shoes, shining like black glass.
She put her hand over her mouth.
“Frank,” she said. Her voice cracked. “You look like him.”
“Can you help me with this collar?” I said.
She came over. She stood in front of me and fastened the hook at my throat. Her fingers were shaking.
When she was done, she smoothed the front of the jacket with both hands. She straightened my
tie.
Then she put her forehead against my chest. Right over the ribbons.
“Thank you,” she whispered. “Thank you for doing this.”
Part Six: Caleb
Caleb came out of his bedroom at seven.
