For Seven Years I Sent Forty Thousand Dollars Every January, Until Emma Finally Spoke

“You’re too kind,” Eleanor said.

“How was your week?”

“Busy,” Mark said.

“I actually spent all day yesterday cleaning out the home office.

I finally tackled the old metal filing cabinets.”

I stopped cutting my food.

“Did you find anything interesting?” I asked.

“Mostly painful memories,” Mark said.