However, the change in her schedule had never been properly communicated to Jacob.
“That was a failure on our side,” he admitted. “The adults should have ensured that Lily’s schedule was discussed with her father. Ethan shouldn’t have helped keep it secret, but he wasn’t responsible for managing the school’s permission process.”
I took a breath.
“Why was Lily hiding it?”
Ethan stared at the floor.
“She thought her dad would say no.”
Jacob’s jaw tightened.
“I told her I didn’t want her exhausting herself with rehearsals.”
“She’s not acting,” Ethan said. “She’s helping with costumes.”
“That isn’t the point.”
“I know!”
Ethan’s voice rose unexpectedly.
Everyone fell silent.
He looked startled by his own outburst.
Then he spoke more quietly.
“She wanted to use her mom’s sewing machine.”
Jacob stopped moving.
“What?”
“The one in the auditorium.”
“What sewing machine?”
“The one you donated.”
Jacob stared at him.
For the first time since I had entered the office, his anger seemed to disappear.
