of them.”

I looked at her.

“All of them?”

She waved a hand.

“It’s my birthday. Relax.”

The waiter began writing down the order.

Before walking away, he glanced at me.

Not rudely.

Just longer than expected.

I barely noticed it at the time.

I was mostly thinking about getting through dinner and going home.

There were still boxes filled with Mom’s belongings sitting continue reading …