Six Years After the Lake Trip, One Blue Envelope Upended Everything Clara Believed

She unwrapped the flannel and wiped the dust off with her sleeve.

It was a rectangular wooden sign Daniel had carved eight years earlier, painted in thick green letters.

It said: Miller Lake Shed, for Daniel, Sam, and Peter.

The paint on the M was worn at one corner, but the carved grooves were still deep and sharp.

“I remember him making this on the back porch,” Sophie said.

“He spent three Saturday afternoons sanding down the edges.”

“He meant to hang it over the door the week after that fishing trip,” I said.