Chapter 24: The Closet Door

We got to Alder Street at dusk, in two cars.

Stefan's truck came first, with Kenzie in the cab holding a pizza box on her knees.

The porch light was on.

I had left it that way on purpose that morning, for the first time since the funeral.

The new boards of the porch smelled of varnish, and the old front door had a fresh coat of white on it.

Maxine stopped on the walk and put her hands on her hips.

"You didn't tell me you painted the door."

"Stefan did."

"Stefan did a very good job."

"Stefan did it with a bad knee," Stefan said, climbing out.

On the door hung a small board, painted blue, with white letters.

I had not hung it.

I walked up the steps and read it in the porch light.

WINONA'S HOUSE, it said, and under it, smaller, in Maxine's square handwriting: NO WAITING BY THE DOOR.

"When did you do this?"

"Thursday," Maxine said, behind me. "While you were at work."

I put my fingers on the edge of the board.

I did not trust my voice, so I only nodded, and she bumped her shoulder against mine.

The divorce had come through the week before.

Blaine had signed every page without a word, and the deed to the house had never left my name.

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