I was confused as to why we parked outside of an old daycare center, until I read the giant sign out front. This was the church, but not all of it. The small building was connected to a larger manor concealed by trees and shadow, but still smaller than what I expected. Light shone through every window, despite it still being bright out.

The cars were all parked in the surrounding gravel against metal fences. Though the sky was blue, the isolated road we found ourselves on became more uncomfortable as we sat.

“Can we drive by the old house later?” I asked.

“Maybe, if it’s not too late when we leave.” He turned off the radio and collected his bookbag.

How long were we going to be here? I was tired just thinking about it.

Dad bought his thermos with him, even though there would be plenty of drinks for us. I brought my notebook with me in my satchel so I wouldn’t get bored. I doubted I’d actually write anything.

We got out of the car and walked up to the building.

Inside was a cozy dining area with two long tables filled with food. It didn’t look like a church, but I assumed the nave was somewhere else in the building. The floor had cherry and black tiled carpeting, which I knew I had seen before. Golden lights hung from the ceiling. Slow jazz music played from the speakers, though it was too loud to be calming. There were so many people, none of whom I’ve ever met. It’s like they were all related to each other, seamlessly blending into a friendly group.

My dad soon disappeared in the crowd. Everyone became giant as I weaved through the unfamiliar faces. They towered over me, even the little kids. Voices melted together.

I scanned everywhere for a hallway or another room, like I usually did in these situations. No one ever noticed when I left.

There was a hallway peeking from the very end of the room. I pushed through the surprisingly heavy doors, nearly jumping out my skin at the boom they made when they closed. Hopefully they all thought I was a janitor or something.

The endless corridor behind it was lit with sconces.

I gleaned all the rooms as I walked down. and finally found one that wasn’t a storage room or full of kids.

Black circular tables filled each corner along with small bookshelves of picture books. There were no windows or posters on the wall, like it was recently furnished. I flicked on the tall lamp in the corner.

But then, I felt like I made a mistake. What if I wasn’t allowed to be back there? I noticed a bulletin board on the wall, plastered with notecards of names written in bad handwriting. It was a Sunday School room. That made me feel worse. Now I had to muster the courage to go back out, seeing the stunned faces following the loud boom of the doors. There had to be another way out.

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I left the room and looked down the hall. After standing motionless for a few minutes, I followed my gut and found an abandoned room linking back to the main area through a rickety door. It took me to a neglected corner of the nave where the light didn’t reach. Giant, fake plants and stacks of chairs hid me from everyone. A smile crossed my face.

I spotted my dad nearly snapping his arms carrying a case of Sprite cans. A woman with his same arms hauled it in one breath onto the rose table. He tried again with a tin tray of macaroni. If he dropped it, I wouldn't be his son anymore. From the chattering locals, a tall, suited man took the tray. His silky black hair fell over his shoulders in a ponytail. He had dark, coffee skin.

I appeared beside them and grabbed a can of Sprite.

"Dariberry, you came out of hiding!" Dad tried to smile through his tired breaths. “Come on! Talk to someone. Did you talk to Mr. Dantes?”

"I was just thirsty," I shrugged. "I'm going back."

"Oh. Did you want any mac and cheese? Or dessert?"

"Uh, not now. I'm just thirsty."

“But you didn't eat breakfast.”

I tried avoiding the other man's line of sight as I glanced around the room.

He smiled at my dad. His voice was deep and melodic. “You take a seat somewhere. We'll eat together."

"Wow…” Dad rubbed his arms. “That's very nice of you.”

He pulled a soda can from the case and slipped through the crowd to find a spot at one of the long tables. I only realized then that the man was Mr. Dantes. I only saw him once before, but heard his name everyday when Dad was on the phone.

He revealed a smartwatch under his suit cuff. He scoffed and looked up at the giant curtained window above us. No sunlight lit through the red drapery. I was so taken in by it, I didn't feel Dantes's hand on my shoulder.

"You're Darien, right?" he smiled. "Your father talks about you a lot."

I nodded.

"Why were you hiding?"

"It's too crowded in here,” I mumbled.

He laughed. "Do you know Drexel? He’s eating outdoors.”

“Drexel? You know him?”

“I’m his guardian. Or adopted father. Mr. Vincent never mentioned him?”

“I knew you had a son, but that's all… Do you have an accent?”

“Plain American.”

“Must’ve misheard. Does Drexel have another guardian? And do you have a fox?”

“That would be news to me. And yes, I do have a lovely fox. You have a lot of questions today.”

“Sorry, I just… I'm probably misremembering something. I’m gonna go outside.”

"I'll let you to it. Have a wonderful evening.”