She considered that.
“Kevin the spider isn’t here.”
“I’m relieved to hear it.”
For the next two hours, the house was full of the kind of noise I had missed so badly that I had almost forgotten what it sounded like.
Eli drove his toy truck under the table. Sadie sat on the floor beside my African violets and asked whether plants got lonely. Michelle helped me make coffee, and Todd fixed the loose hinge on the screen door without being asked.
When lunchtime came, I made sandwiches.
Michelle started to clear the plates afterward.
“Leave them,” I said.
She looked at me.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure. You came to visit, not to work.”
She slowly put the plate back down.
Then she sat beside me on the couch while the children played on the floor.
“Mom,” she said quietly, “can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Are you happy here?”
