Naomi's face crumpled. The tears came all at once. Silent. Running down her cheeks. Dripping off her jaw.
I wanted to look away. Give her privacy. But she still held my hand with her free one so I stayed exactly where I was.
Her mother kept talking. Pride and relief and fear all mixed together.
"Your brothers are going to lose their minds. Mikal has been asking every day if you're okay. Devon drew you a picture. It's on the fridge. A superhero with pink hair saving people."
Naomi laughed through the tears.
"Tell him I'll call tonight. Tell them both I'll call."
"We're so proud of you, baby. So proud."
"I was scared," Naomi admitted. "I was so scared I'd fail. That I'd come here and prove Captain Cross wrong for sponsoring me."
"You proved him right," her father said. His voice thick. "You proved everyone right who believed in you."
