At the door, his mother thanked Evelyn for visiting. “You present yourself thoughtfully,” she said. “It honors everyone’s time and efforts.” There was genuine warmth in it, and a measurement, too, like a hand adjusting a scale to work properly.
On the driveway, gravel barely shifted under their shoes. Aaron stood taller, his frame radiating health, confidence, and perfect manliness. “She liked you,” he said, eyes bright with the relief of a report card returned unblemished. “I could tell,” Evelyn answered, squeezing his hand once.