I knew what he was saying. They had things they wanted to talk about, and they didn’t want to have me hanging around. I really, really hated to be left out. “That works,” I said. I knew my dad heard the disappointment in my voice. He put his hand on my shoulder. “I don’t have a road map for this trip, Salvie. But I won’t be leaving you behind, I promise.” My father, he knew how to keep a promise.
