“I told you back then,” Sarah said, her voice settling into a low, even tone.

“She never had the stomach for hard work.”

“She had what she wanted for a few years,” I said.

“Now she’s got to find her own way.”

Lily walked past the coffee table, where the blue envelope lay flat on the dark wood.

“Do we need to pack anything?” Lily asked.

“Not one box,” I said.

“This house belongs to you kids.”