The fresh coat of white paint on the cedar siding caught the late afternoon sun, and the porch roof sat square and level above the clean concrete step.

“Nate,” Ron called out, swinging his heavy car door shut so it slammed against the latch.

“I thought you told us you found a place to rent outside of town.”

“I said we were moving out here today,” Nate said, staying right on the top step.

Kim got out of her car with her two boys, her mouth hanging open as she looked at the new screen door and the clear glass in every window.

The boys ran past her toward the cistern, their sneakers kicking up little pebbles from the drive before Kim called them back to the car.