“I didn’t.” Eli pointed to the piano, which was only twenty feet from the bench. “Technically.” A few people laughed.
Sarah tried not to. “Technically is how children get grounded.” Then she saw his expression, the mixture of defiance and longing and embarrassment, and her voice softened. “You okay?”
Before Eli could answer, Paige tugged on Melissa’s sleeve. “Mom, tell her.” Melissa looked at her daughter. “Tell her what?”
“What you said.” The color rose under Melissa’s makeup. Sarah’s attention sharpened. “What did she say?”
Paige, who had inherited none of her mother’s instinct for social escape, answered for everyone. “She said he was too little for the piano. And Mr. Tom said he should go play with the kids.”
“And Zoe’s mom said he shouldn’t chase big dreams.” She pointed at the adults one after another with devastating efficiency. “Then he played.” Sarah looked slowly from Melissa to Tom to Aisha.
Eli groaned under his breath. “Paige.” The girl looked confused. “What?”
“That’s what happened.” Aisha stepped forward first. “She’s right,” she said. “I said it.