“The house was part of our life,” I said.

“It wasn’t the whole life.”

He asked whether Tommy would want to say goodbye to his old bedroom before the sale.

I agreed that he should have the choice.

We arranged a Saturday visit without discussing money in front of him.

Tommy walked through the rooms slowly.

He noticed the height marks were gone from the bedroom door and asked where they’d been put.

I showed him the wooden ruler we had saved.