She glanced around the narrow hallway as if waiting for someone else to step in and speak for her, but my father stayed still by the front door and I held my ground beside the coat rack.

From the back den came the sound of heavy work boots moving down the hallway.

Richard walked into the entryway carrying a set of metal hex wrenches from his garage workbench.

He stopped beside Ethan and looked down at the cardboard boxes on the stair.

“The wooden crib is still put together in the back bedroom,” Richard said quietly.

“I can help you unbolt the frame,” Ethan said.

Linda stepped into Richard’s path by the living room doorway, her arms suddenly crossing tightly over her chest.