That was the age at which memories became strangely incomplete.
He remembered his father's laugh.
He remembered being lifted onto broad shoulders.
He remembered a dark blue jacket.
He remembered sitting on a porch during a thunderstorm while his father told him that fear was not the same thing as weakness.
But there were years missing.
Pieces.
Faces without names.
Conversations without endings.
"How did he die?" Malik asked.
Angela took a slow breath.
"You know how."
"People always tell me it was an accident."
"It was."
"What kind?"
She looked at him.
"A car accident."
Malik nodded slowly.
He had heard that answer his entire life.
But something about tonight made it feel incomplete.
Before he could ask again, a knock came at the door.
Angela stood.
When she opened it, Richard Whitmore was standing outside.
He wore the same expression he always wore when he believed he had an official reason for being somewhere.
"Evening."
Angela didn't smile.
"Richard."
"I wanted to speak with you."
"About?"
"The visitors."
Malik looked up from the kitchen.
Richard noticed him.
"This is a private conversation."
"It's my house," Malik said.
Richard's jaw tightened.
Angela stepped between them.
"If you have something to say, say it."
Richard held up a paper.
"There are neighborhood security concerns."
Angela looked at the paper.
"Security concerns?"
"We've had unfamiliar vehicles entering the community."
"They were here for me."
"That's exactly what concerns me."
"Why?"
Richard lowered his voice.
"Because I don't know who they are."
Angela's expression hardened.
"You don't need to."
Richard looked past her toward Malik.
"The association has rules about repeated visitors."
"Then send me the rule."
"I already did."
"No. You sent me a warning about my trash can."
Richard ignored the comment.
"This community has standards."
Malik stepped closer.
"My dad lived here."
Richard looked at him.
"I know."
"Then why are you acting like we don't belong?"
Silence.
Richard's face became unreadable.
"I never said that."
"You didn't have to."
Angela gently touched Malik's arm.
"Enough."