We chose a quiet green that reminded me of Madeline’s garden.

Patricia stopped by with an old drawing of the house, and Rose brought sandwiches wrapped in brown paper.

Together we moved furniture, argued gently over where a bookcase should stand, and found a forgotten photograph behind a desk.

It showed me at twenty-two, sitting beside Madeline on the front steps with a cup of coffee in each hand.

I looked tired and uncertain.

She looked determined to make me laugh.