I Heard My Uncle in the Hall Before I Saw What He’d Brought

front-door mail slot, and moved the rest of his things out of her condo before noon.

My mother called Thomas from an unknown number.

He answered on speaker in the kitchen while I sat there with Caleb asleep in a bouncer and a mug of tea going cold.

“Tell Emma she’s destroyed this family,” my mother said.

Thomas buttered toast while she talked.

“No,” he continue reading …