arried by the mailman who only cam

me, Sarah Miller, though most

er, with the "Miller's Markets" logo

close in over ten years,

nine, when Dad deci

bender, a supplier backing out,

started whe

t Dad' s voic

is, who was already old then, and whe

e Ozark community, full of old w

had a "gift," not

fuller near where I weeded, or when a s

Sadie," she'd say, "and things

. It was an invitat

rthday gala. My

red one,

e. It is an obligation," the stiffl

me read it, he

d?" she asked, her

g a cold dread.

er, Elara pressed a small, ha

river stone, co

y. "When you feel the tide turn against yo

y piece of this mounta

ler mansion was bigger than I remembered,

door. His eyes, cold as a winter river, s

his voice clippe

, no welcome. Just

way of a massive living r

the cat dragged in from

air and expensive clothe

ill of being the outsi

y reunion, it was a

the unwelc