Fifteen Years After My Father Changed the Locks, He Seated Me at Table Twenty-Two

“I found the key inside Mother’s old cedar chest three months ago,” Clare said.

“He left the office at five on a Friday, and I stayed behind after the staff left.”

I pulled the second envelope from under the rubber band.

It was postmarked from Scott Air Force Base six years ago and addressed to Clare’s high school dormitory.

“He told me you stopped writing before I finished ninth grade,” Clare said softly.

“He told me you threw away the photographs from our summer trip.”

“I never threw away a single photograph,” I said.