The moment I stepped into school, I could still feel the irritation that I’d been trying to shake off all morning. I didn’t even know why I was wasting my time on someone like Cole. He’d rather defend his lying father than face the truth.

Before the weight of my feelings could settle in any deeper, someone suddenly appeared beside me.

“Laura!” Sue called, holding her pink tumbler, which always seemed to have some kind of flavored water in it. “Hey, uh… do you wanna go to the cemetery later? It’s Uncle Freddie’s birthday today, right?”

I stopped for a second, then remembered the date.

March 4.

Papa’s birthday.

I...