ng. The California sun b

ed to be our sanctuary, a place we

for an awkward anniversary dinner, the air thick with u

driveway, gravel crun

he same. Beautiful

I th

ards the front

ilk robes. My favorite one, the blue one Eth

"Sarah. What

proprietary,

you doing h

et place to rest." She patted her slightly rounded

gna

expected pain was dull, d

his house?" I ask

the best for his child." She smiled, a tri

to the house. My hous

d. Her garish taste clashing wi

belongings," I said, head

your old things into sto

presence an irritatio

. My mother' s jewelry, some old letters, a few

my phone, d

his voice impatient. "What is

here, at th

meant to tell you. She

e house. She says she' s p

use, longe

ah, it' s c

true,

, his voice flat

xplanation. Just

voice sounded far away

omething nice when I get back. That new jewel

nice. Like a new

A dry, humo

o that,

ung

ug look on her face. "He a

said, picking up my s

house, out of her si

days