neighborhood. Manicured lawns and two-story houses with pristine siding lined the qu

y down the street. "Are you ready fo

deep brea

tone pathway to a handsome blue house with a bright re

as S

tly coiffed. A delicate gold necklace rested on her collarbo

me, a flicker of genuine shock, before it w

t-shirt, a small, disdainful wrinkle appearing at the bridge of her nose. Her gaze t

, my voice even. "I ca

izing laugh. "Oh, you mean Michael. He's so

I was an unwanted visitor. In my previous life, I would h

't need an appointme

e, ran into the hallway. They were dressed in new, brand-name clothe

one dripping with the same condescens

ut any real force. "Hush, ho

insulting. I could feel m

ouse, I heard Michael's

and expensive-looking slacks. He had gained some weight, a comfortable softness that spoke

t... what are you doing h

e street, as if expectin

I said, watching his

repeated, a nervou

r," I said, letting the

ry hand on his arm. "Michael, honey, Ava just showed u

just crazy at the factory. And with... everything." He gestured vaguely around the perfe

t himself as the responsible man overwhelmed wi

, cutting through his performance. "Our fa

ed. This was not

anced at Sarah, who nodded in agreement. "It's just not a good time. I can give you some

ollars at the problem and send us back to our mi

came from the driveway. My son, Tom, who had been sile

ck, the kind of expensive, oversized vehicle th

oice full of childish awe.

that he was barely scraping by, that every penny went into the busin

truck, son," he mumbl

one. The contrast filled me with a cold, hard rage. My children deserved a father

aid, my voice low and clear. "We're stayin

his and Sarah's faces was the first sm