The Final Appraisal at the Lake House Before the Family Reckoning

not that kind of ending.

It was better.

It was the kind where people leave with work to do.

Back at the lake house, the twenty-four-hour clock still stood.

Ruth did not take back her instruction.

By six that evening, my children had packed.

Diane carried boxes of old albums Ruth had set aside for her.

Mark took the letter he finally opened on the porch, then continue reading …