A sharp double knock sounded on the thick oak front door.

Nathaniel got up, adjusting his watch band on his wrist as he pulled back the heavy brass latch.

Martha Miller stood on the porch step under the yellow porch light, holding a brown paper bag from the Strasburg food store.

Daisy ducked around her mother’s winter coat, carrying a small pine picture frame carefully wrapped in a white hand towel.

“Daisy insisted on walking this over before bedtime,” Martha said, standing on the step while the night air settled around her boots.