One Night Stand novel · Chapter 24 of 24

Chapter 24: The First Frame

Otto turned four on a cold Saturday in November, in the garden at Chestnut Hill, wearing a paper stegosaurus crest.

There were forty dinosaurs on the lawn.

Dottie had counted them twice, and now she was counting the children.

"Eleven," she said. "I ordered cake for fifteen. We're fine."

"We're not fine," said Eleanor. "That boy in the green sweater has eaten two slices."

"He's growing."

"He is a cormorant."

Eleanor sat in a wicker chair by the greenhouse with a blanket over her knees.

She had a diplodocus in her lap, a gift from Otto in September.

She did not let anyone else touch it.

The week before, Preston had pleaded guilty in a federal courtroom to conspiracy and fraud.

Mateo had gone.

Eleanor had not, and she had not asked how it went.

"Did he look at you?" I had asked Mateo that night.

"Once."

"What did you do?"

"I looked back. Then I went home."

It was the last time any of us spoke his name.

"Mama!" Otto yelled. "Mama, it's time! Candles!"

I came out through the kitchen door with the cake in both hands.

It was a green sheet cake with a sugar volcano on top.

Four candles burned in a ring of icing rocks.

Mateo walked backward in front of me, holding the door.

"Careful of the step."

"There's no step."

"I'm just saying it."

The children crowded around the picnic table.

Otto climbed onto the bench, with his crest slipping, and looked down at the flames.

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