“I cleaned out so much stuff, and Dad and I had to wear masks sometimes. But we’re doing good.” I saw Raven smile at Dad and I had a rush of happiness for her. A normal-looking home would help her so much. I lost a lot of confidence because there was no way I could ever offer to do things at my place. And I felt like I made up so many lies to get people to drop me off at the end of the driveway. Maybe they felt I wasn’t genuine? I wasn’t sure that was the case, now that I was older, but young Taylor put a lot of thought into the very thing.

“I feel like this is going to help me heal. Thank you both so much.” When we broke the hug, Dad started talking about grilling burgers. Raven got out a bag of frozen broccoli and a few potatoes. Nothing gourmet, but we had plates and we had a table to eat on. I helped my sister set the table, and before I knew it, we were having a good, old-fashioned family dinner.

Raven and Dad wouldn’t let me help clean up. Instead, they encouraged me to sit while they loaded up the dishwasher. When it turned on, I jumped. It was loud. Really loud.

Dad frowned at it. “It’s just getting used to working, that’s all.”

Raven grimaced at the old thing as it started to make a high-pitched whine. “It doesn’t like doing its job.”

We moved to the back deck, another place I hadn’t set foot on in a long time. I could see the almost full dumpster clearly now. It probably seemed like a big pile of crap to anyone else, but I knew it was a huge move for Dad. Everything was tied to a memory he had been trying to recreate, even though that was always impossible.

The lawn was cut and the weeds had been whacked. We sat down in mismatched lawn chairs, but I appreciated that we could look at the view and not feel a pit in our stomachs of the undone chores that seemed to be in an unconquerable pile.

“Listen, I’m going to run to the store and get Taylor a phone so I can have mine back. You guys stay here, okay?” He pushed up from his chair and both he and it groaned.

Raven nodded. “Yeah, she and I have a ton to talk about. I’ll watch her.”

After Dad had closed the screen door, she leaned closer to me. “Dad’s been talking to a woman.”

Oh. Now it made sense.

I mean, I’d have loved it if self-realization had brought on the changes, but his being serious about a lady for the first time since Mom left was great news.