“Those ten acres belonged to my father, Julian.”

“And you married me,” he said, tapping the gas pedal until the engine revved.

“I have work to finish at the high school.”

He shifted into reverse and backed out of the gravel space without looking at me again.

By four that afternoon, I was sitting at the kitchen table folding Leo’s laundry while Leo played with his worn stuffed rabbit on the living room rug.

The front doorbell rang twice, short and quick.