He walked into the kitchen, washed his hands thoroughly at the sink, poured a cup of coffee, and sat down across from me as if nothing unusual had transpired.

“Good morning,” he said warmly.

“Good morning,” I replied.

He blew gently on his hot coffee.

“You ought to turn in early tonight,” he suggested kindly.

“We have a big morning ahead of us tomorrow.”

I set my alarm for five o’clock the next morning, though I was already awake by four thirty, staring at the ceiling in anticipation.

When I walked downstairs, Dad was already busy in the kitchen preparing coffee.