“Leave the box here,” I said.

“I’ll put it away in the guest room closet.”

I picked up the white box and carried it down the long hall.

I set it on the closet’s top shelf and pushed it behind a few spare blankets.

I closed the wooden door.

I turned the brass knob to be sure the latch had caught.

I went back into the kitchen.

Margaret was filling the copper kettle at the sink.