A document can feel colder than an empty room.
At least a room does not pretend to love you.
Still, that Christmas, I tried one final time.
I called several weeks in advance.
I told them I did not want presents.
I did not need anything elaborate.
I only wanted one evening together.
One proper family dinner.
One night that felt like the old days, when Richard was still alive and the grandchildren ran through the hallway in their socks.
Laura said, “We’ll see.”
Michael said, “I’ll try.”
Fiona smiled
