Hospital and county staff remained the people responsible for the arrangements.

Mia waved and went back to deciding where the small block belonged.

By late afternoon, the duplex smelled of cardboard and toast.

Her mother was unpacking the last small box collected from the old house through the authorized arrangements.

The blue flowerpot stood on the counter.

It had traveled with her belongings instead of remaining by the old door.

She turned it and found the spare key tucked with the pot for the move.

It had been brought away from the hiding place during collection, then overlooked among the dirt and packing.