Crayons in her purse.
Three toothbrushes beside hers when they traveled.
Mr. Buttons, now missing one eye, sitting on Maggie’s bed.
The framed construction-paper card that still hung in their hallway.
FOREVER HOME PEOPLE.
“Yes.”
Claire smiled.
“I belong now.”
Maggie leaned against her shoulder.
“Are you still lonely?”
“No.”
“Never?”
Claire considered lying.
Instead she said, “Sometimes everybody feels lonely.”
Maggie looked surprised.
“Even with us?”
“Sometimes.”
“Why?”
“Because loneliness isn’t always about how many people love you.”
Claire touched Maggie’s hand.
“Sometimes it just means you need to reach for someone.”
Maggie nodded thoughtfully.
“So you reach for us.”
“Exactly.”
“And we reach back.”
Claire smiled.
“Always.”
Maggie looked toward the path.
“You know something funny?”
“What?”
“If I didn’t talk to strangers, we wouldn’t be a family.”
Claire laughed.
“That is not the lesson I want you taking from this.”
“I knew you’d say that.”
“You were five. Your father was twenty yards away. I was sitting in public. He checked everything about me.”
“I know.”
“Good.”
Maggie grinned.
“The lesson is ask Dad first.”
“Much better.”
They sat quietly again.
Then Maggie said, “I remember thinking you looked fancy.”
Claire raised an eyebrow.
“Fancy?”
“You had a nice coat.”
“I still have that coat.”
“You should get rid of it.”
“Why?”
“It made you look sad.”
Claire laughed until her eyes watered.
That evening the four of them had dinner at home.
Nothing special.
