I stacked the empty storage crates neatly over the seam so the floor looked smooth and untouched.

At five o’clock the sun slipped below the tree line, throwing long amber light across the bare oak floorboards of the living room.

The front room was completely clear of Chloe’s short-lived furniture, leaving the wide space open from the front window alcove all the way to the dining room archway.

I went down the hall to the front closet and unzipped my green canvas duffel.

I took out my dark green winter service uniform jacket, smoothed the cloth over the sleeves, and hung it on a wooden hanger on the closet rod.

I set my black leather combat boots side by side on the mat next to the door, right where Arthur used to leave his work boots after coming in from the yard.

I took the waterproof blue document folder out of the bottom of the duffel and laid it flat on the sideboard. I went to the front doorframe, where a small carved wooden rack with brass hooks was fixed into the oak molding.

From my coat pocket I took out the original brass key tagged 1994, the key Arthur had pressed into my palm the morning I left for military duty.

I stepped up to the doorway and hung that original brass key on the little wooden rack beside the front door.