My Husband Locked Our Phones in His Toolbox Before Friday Dinner—Then My Son Collapsed After Three Bites

One chair was overturned.

My father’s silver wristwatch sat on the counter.

I had worn it for nearly twenty years.

That Friday I removed it while kneading bread dough because the clasp kept catching.

I had forgotten to put it back on.

For the next several weeks, every time I became frightened, my thumb rubbed the bare skin where that watch should have been.

As though time itself had disappeared.

PART 5 — LEAH OPENS THE MAIL

My sister Leah worked at Oakhaven Bank.