His arms opened for a hug.
And I stepped back.
Instead, I held out my hand for a handshake.
The moment froze between us.
For a split second, I saw the hurt in his eyes.
But he quickly covered it with a smile.
“Congratulations, kiddo,” he said softly.
Three weeks later, he was dead.
The Phone Call
A logging truck had crossed the center line on a rainy mountain road.