By five o’clock the evening wind had faded to a soft murmur against the kitchen siding.

Sadie took her red wool coat off the hook in the hall and stepped into her rubber boots by the back door, pulling the buckles snug over her ankles.

I covered the warm ceramic plate with a clean linen napkin and tucked the white edges firmly under the rim to keep the heat in.

“Keep your eyes on the paved path,” I said, holding the back door open for her.

“Mrs.