last-minute call.
No canceled flight.
No vague explanation from another time zone.
Mom opened the door before I reached the porch.
For one terrible second, I thought she might cry.
Instead she glanced at my bag.
“You’re early.”
“By eleven minutes.”
She hugged me.
Not too long.
No.
Just a hug.
Dad was in the kitchen.
Ryan was already there.
So were Aunt Patricia and Madison.
That part clearly hadn’t changed.
Madison saw me and suddenly became fascinated by her wineglass.
Aunt Patricia said,
“Emily”.
“Patricia.”
Ryan came over.
He
