the old neighborhood.
Instead, unexpected calm settled over me.
The mansion looked lovely.
The gardens were redesigned.
White hydrangeas framed the entrance.
The lake sparkled in the afternoon light.
June welcomed me at the entrance.
“Welcome back, Rowan.”
I smiled.
“Actually, I think this is the first time I’ve truly been a guest here.”
She laughed.
The interior was transformed.
Light furnishings, paintings, and June’s family photos filled the living room.
Children’s drawings covered the refrigerator.
Flowers brightened the dining table.
A golden retriever dozed by the hearth.
It felt
