“She needed it, sir.”
Nathan nodded.
“I know.”
His voice cracked.
“That’s exactly what Sophie told me you would say.”
THE ENTIRE SHIFT CONTRIBUTED
Officer Daniels stood near the kitchen wall.
Officer Cooper stepped toward the guitar case.
Nathan continued:
“I mentioned what happened at the precinct.”
Ethan glanced toward the officers.
Nathan smiled.
“And apparently police officers have difficulty minding their own business.”
Officer Cooper laughed.
“Very serious departmental problem.”
Then he tapped the guitar case.
“Everyone on Nathan’s shift contributed.”
Ethan stared.
“What?”
Nathan nodded toward it.
“Open it.”
Slowly, Ethan walked across the room.
He knelt.
Unlatched the case.
Then lifted the lid.
Inside was a beautiful new guitar.
Not his old one.
A new one.
Polished wood.
Perfect strings.
Fresh strap.
Ethan simply stared at it.
Then looked at me.
“Mom?”
I was already crying.
“Don’t look at me. I didn’t know.”
He turned toward Nathan.
“I can’t take this.”
“Yes, you can.”
