“I won’t.”
Relief crossed her face.
Then I added, “But I may still sell.”
The relief disappeared.
I almost felt guilty.
Almost.
“Why?”
“Because the house has to be part of my life, not a museum for everyone else’s childhood.”
She nodded slowly.
“I guess that’s fair.”
“It’s more than fair.”
“You’re right.”
That was possibly the first time Brenda had said those words to me since 1998.
By evening, Gregory had ordered dinner from a small Italian restaurant Robert loved.
Jennifer arrived with the children and Douglas.
I had not asked everyone to come.
But I did not ask them to leave.
Cooper ran through the door and hugged me around the waist.
“You came!”
“I did.”
Paisley held up a seashell.
“I found this for you.”
It was chipped on one side and completely ordinary.
To her, it was treasure.
“Thank you.”
She leaned close.
