After we laid my husband to rest, my son drove me to a quiet road outside town and said, “This is where you get out. The house and the business are mine now.”

Then I stepped through the door.

Leah was arguing with Brandon about plates.

Marcus was opening wine.

Sam had apparently let himself in through the back and was complaining about the thermostat.

The house was loud.

Imperfect.

Alive.

I closed the door behind me.

And this time, nobody was taking me anywhere I hadn’t chosen to go.