The Envelope That Changed Everything

at the counter with two mugs, steam curling between us.

For a second, I thought she’d made tea for me. That she’d waited.

Then she said, almost casually, “Ivy called. She’s moving back. She and the kids need a stable place.”

My keys clicked against the tile when I set them down.

“Okay,” I said slowly, waiting for the reasonable part. The part where we continue reading …