Yellow Ceramic Mug and Red Silk Scarf in a Red Buick

in the doorway, watching the red tail-lights of Nicole’s car disappear down the dark driveway, leaving only the black outlines of the sugar maples against the night sky.

I locked the heavy front door and slid the brass bolt into place. The house was dark, but I did not turn on the hall lights as I walked toward the parlor. The floorboards continue reading …