Ellen: Laundry (Mon/Thu). Ellen: Bathrooms (Tue). Ellen: Dinner Prep (Daily).

The garage door rumbled. My mother’s fingers dug into my jacket. “That’s Derek. Honey, please. Be nice.”

My brother came through the interior door hauling grocery bags. He froze for half a beat when he saw me, and then produced a look of enormous delight.

“Iris! The hero returns!” He dropped the bags and wrapped me in a bear hug. “Why didn’t you call? Mel, get in here!”

Melissa came into the kitchen with her brain visibly rewinding our conversation on the porch. To her credit, she didn’t flinch. She recalibrated on the spot.

“Oh my goodness, you should have called! I’d have made up the guest room!”