Then we drove to my house for the pecan pie.
Before leaving, I went into the basement and retrieved a small shoebox from a shelf.
Inside was something Walter had treasured.
Something I’d deliberately kept when the rest of his collection was sold.
I carried it to the car without explaining.
At 3:10 that afternoon, Pat and I arrived at Adam and Renee’s house.
Pat carried the turkey.
I carried the pie and the shoebox.
When Renee opened the door, her smile faded as soon as she saw me.
“Joanne? What are you doing here?”
Pat spoke firmly.
“Renee, let us inside. We need to talk.”
Renee looked uncertain.
Then she stepped aside.
Adam appeared from the kitchen.
“Mom?”
Before I could answer, Lily came running from the living room.
“GRANDMA!”
Noah followed close behind.
They wrapped their arms around me so enthusiastically that I nearly dropped the pie.
