I Hid My Perfect Score novel · Chapter 31 of 32

Chapter 31: Family Sunday

I opened the card at the table with everyone watching.

It was short.

Joss,

Mom came into my room last week and stood by the closet.

She said it was never mine.

I said I know.

I took it down myself.

It had your name on it the whole time. I'm sorry I kept it where I didn't have to look at it.

I read it twice.

Then I folded it and put it in my shirt pocket and buttoned the pocket.

"Well?" Dodie said.

"It's mine," I said.

I picked up the trophy.

It was smaller than I remembered, and heavier.

The little gold atom had a scratch on it from somebody's closet shelf.

I carried it into the kitchen and looked around for a place.

The windowsill over the sink had Dodie's starter jar on it, bubbling in the evening sun.

I set the trophy down beside the jar.

Dodie came in behind me and looked at the two of them together.

"It can stay there," she said. "The starter likes company."

The next Sunday was the first one in August.

After pancakes we propped the lab laptop up against the syrup on the long table and called home.

Dad picked up from our kitchen in Connecticut.

Paisley leaned into the frame beside him with flour on her forearms.

"Sorry. I came straight from work."

"Work?" Gavin said.

"The bakery on Main. Five in the morning." She held up her hands.

"I've burned myself four times. Dodie, what's a levain? Everyone there says it like I'm supposed to know."

Dodie pushed Gavin out of the way to get closer to the camera.

"Oh, honey," she said. "Sit down. We're going to be here a while."

They talked bread for ten minutes.

The juniors got bored and left.

Gavin made faces behind Dodie's head.

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