She Walked Out, and Ten Years Later She Showed Up With Expensive Gifts at a Twelfth Birthday Dinner

“The roof doesn’t leak, the kids are fed, and the bills get paid on time.

That’s all the arithmetic I care to keep.”

Sarah eyed me over the rim of her foam cup.

“Rob sold his place on the north side of town six years back.

Somebody at the bank said he moved up near Chicago.”

“Rob can move to the moon for all I care,” I said.

I set my cup on the wooden display shelf beside the brass hinge boxes.

“I need to get home before the varnish dries on that frame.”