Max sat on the side of the bed and, using his toes, fished for his slippers. He drew on a robe and walked with resolute steps to the bathroom. Where was Hannah? Well, first things first. He would find Zachary and apologize. The boy deserved a part of the estate, something more than the trust Bella had arranged to have doled out to him. All these years, Zachary had never once asked for anything. So, he hadn’t found his career, his right place in this world. Given time and encouragement, rather than scorn and criticism, he would find his way. Max would aid and abate that search and not be an impediment.

Whistling, feeling much better now that he had sorted it all out, Max showered, dressed, and went downstairs determined to set things right with Zachary, but downstairs he was confronted with a silent, somber household and news that would break his heart.

They sat at the kitchen table and spoke in low voices, as if speaking louder would shatter the fragile air. Again and again, Max read the letter Sarina handed to him, his heart sinking, unwilling to believe its contents.

“This can’t be. I wanted to apologize to him, to work things out,” he said. No one responded.

Anna rummaged in a drawer and retrieved an iron pot, which she set on top of the stove. The sound of metal on metal jarred the silence. It was followed by the splash of liquid being poured into the pot. “I make soup,” she said. The door of the fridge opened. From the crisper, Anna pulled onions and vegetables and set them on a chopping block on the counter. Moments later the clunk, clunk of a knife cut deeply into the thickening silence.

The high-pitched yapping of puppies and Grace’s voice calling, “Carole, Benji, come back here this minute,” echoed from across the road. In her mother’s arms, Sarah stirred and howled as if she had been torn from a deep sleep. Her tiny arms and legs flailed. Sarina rose. “I’ll take her upstairs and change her.”

Max placed both palms on the table and pushed up from his chair. He sighed deeply. “Well, this takes some thinking about. I could hire a detective to try to find him and bring him home, or we can wait and see if we hear from him.”

Sarina clutched Sarah to her chest and looked at Hannah.

“We’ll talk it over—you, Sarina, and I—and we’ll decide together,” Hannah said.

Max looked at his wristwatch and nodded. He felt old and weary. “I have to talk to Jose. We were going to go over plans for the restaurant.” He turned to Anna. “Your cousin Irena comes this week, eh? You have the place ready for her?”

“Sí, Señor Max.” Anna chopped vegetables.