“Just administrative housekeeping.

Nothing that concerns us.” And Wendy looked at me with an understanding that did not require any words, because we had agreed, a long time ago, that the people who had tried to destroy our family would not be given a single further second of our attention.

They were ghosts of a life we had buried, living out the plain consequences of their own choices, and I wished them nothing at all, which is a colder and more complete thing than wishing them ill.

Leo came toddling toward the porch steps just then, holding his leaf aloft like a trophy, his whole face bright.

“Look, Daddy!” he called out, his small voice clear as a bell.

“Leaf!”