Chapter 23: The Navy Room

Carlton brought Cody's things in four trips, and he did not come past the front hall.

"That's the last of the boxes," he said, setting the final one on the stairs. "His team stuff is in the green bag."

"Thank you," I said.

"The lawyer says the custody paper needs both signatures by Friday."

"I'll sign it tonight."

He nodded and looked at the floor.

He was thinner, and he had a job interview on Thursday at a tire shop in Garner.

"Tell him I'll be at Saturday's game," he said. "In the back row. I'll leave if he wants me to."

"I'll tell him."

He went down the front steps without looking up at the second floor.

Sam shut the door behind him with his boot.

"That was the most decent thing I've seen him do," he said.

"It was the first thing."

"I'll take it."

Cody stood at the top of the stairs with the green bag over his shoulder.

He had put on his team hoodie.

He looked fifteen, and nervous, and about to run.

"You can say no," I said. "To anything. If you want a different room, or your own hours, or a pizza night. It's your house too."

"It's your house."

"It's a house with your bed in it. That's different."

I led him down the hall to the room at the end.

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