Derek grabs two beers, twisting off the caps and joining Sarah on the back step. He doesn't say anything, just hands her one. They sit and sip, and night settles in.
"His first word was mama."
"Hmm," he offers, wondering where this is going.
"His next word was run."
"And not from Dick and Jane books."
"No, it wasn't that." She sets her empty next to his.
It won't change things, but he offers it anyway. "John's a good kid. He's a great man in the future."
"It's necessary." She collects the bottles and walks away. "It'll never be acceptable."