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Arthur looks down.

Will clears his throat.

Taylor suddenly seems interested in the countertop.

I smile.

“She wrote about my first day of school. Losing my first tooth. The time I cut my own hair.”

“How bad?” Arthur asks.

“Mae cried.”

“That bad?”

“Addy laughed so hard she had to sit on the floor.”

I laugh remembering it.

“She took pictures before Mae fixed it.”

“Smart woman.”

“She put one in the letter.”

Arthur grins.

“I need to see that.”

“Never.”

“We'll negotiate.”

“There is no negotiation.”

I turn toward the oven.

Seven minutes.

Will looks at me.

“Did Mae write letters too?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Mae said she planned on being around to tell me things herself.”

The words leave my mouth.

Then the kitchen disappears behind tears.

I turn away.

Stupid.

I wipe my face quickly.