weekends in his garage workshop while he was away on jobs.
Mike opened the package.
Inside was a sign. Carved from one walnut board. Sanded and oiled until it gleamed.
They had hand-chiseled the lettering using tools Mike gave Luke for his twelfth birthday:
WHITMAN & CALLAHAN
Family is who stays. PlanFamily Trips
Mike rested the sign on his knees for a long while.
He traced the carving with his thumb. He could distinguish each boy’s work. Luke’s cuts ran deeper; Ben’s were slightly uneven.
“We made it in your
