Three Weeks After Lucas Was Gone, Charles Claimed the House on Maple Street

A cart squeaked on the sidewalk.

The mail carrier came up the walk and held out a grocery circular and a card in a pink envelope from the woman two doors down.

“Everybody’s asking after you,” she said.

“Tell them I’m home.”

She went on down the street.

I set the circular aside, opened the folder again, and read the deed all the way down to the seal, and then I read it a second time.

There was nothing after my name.