Then, near the end, after I had asked whether everything was all right and she had laughed softly and said Sarah, of course it is, we are family, she said the other thing, the thing she dropped the way you drop a loose thread you expect no one to pull.

Your father says Danny’s family is doing very well, she said.

They are finally comfortable.

I stopped moving on the porch, the balloons pulling upward against my hand.

That is good, I said.

Very good, she said.

It takes some pressure off everyone.

What pressure, I asked, and she was quiet for just a second too long before she said, nothing you need to worry about, we will see you tomorrow, and hung up.