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A family built from eighteen years of loss.

It should feel strange.

It doesn’t.

The oven timer sounds.

I pull away.

“My cinnamon rolls.”

Sean releases Hayley.

“Are they ready?”

“No.”

“You set the timer.”

“That was for the first rise.”

He looks offended.

“Why would you use the same sound?”

“Because the oven only has one timer.”

“Misleading.”

Hayley smiles.

“You’ll survive.”

“I almost died twice this week.”

“You didn’t almost die because of a cinnamon roll.”

“Not yet.”

I laugh.

A door opens down the hall.

Arthur appears first.

His hair sticks up on one side.

“Is that bacon?”

“I haven’t cooked bacon.”

He looks toward the refrigerator.

“Then why do I smell it?”

“You’re dreaming.”

Kane enters behind him.