For Trey’s act of bravery — his only one ever — had been to save Lee’s life the night before.

Beneath the pride was a whole jumble of emotions Trey hadn’t had time to explore. He felt his leg muscles tense, as if they too remembered last night, remembered springing forward at the last minute to knock Lee to the side, only seconds before the explosion of glass in the very spot where Lee had stood….

It’s easier being brave when you don’t have time to think about your other options, Trey thought Unlike now.

He had so many choices, out here in the open. The ones that called to him most strongly were the ones that involved hiding. How fast would he be able to run back to the car, if he needed to? Would the clump of trees be a good hiding place? Would he be able to squeeze out of sight between that giant flowerpot on the porch and the wall of the Talbot house?

Trey forced himself to keep walking. It seemed a miracle when he finally reached the front porch. He cast a longing glance toward the flowerpot, but willed himself to stab a finger at the doorbell.

Dimly, he could hear a somber version of “‘Westminster Chimes” echoing from indoors. Nobody came. He took a second to admire the brass door knocker, elegantly engraved with the words, GEORGE A. TALBOT, ESQUIRE. Still nobody came.

Too bad, They thought Back to the car, then. But his legs didn’t obey. He couldn’t face the thought of walking back through all that open space again. He pressed the doorbell again.

This time the door opened.

Trey was torn between relief and panic. Relief won when he saw Mr. Talbot’s familiar face on the other side of the door. See, this wasn’t so bad, Trey told himself. I walked all the way up here without my legs even trembling. Take that, Nina! I am braver than you!