“You’ll do wonders with it, no doubt.” Kilburn smiled, remembering how intently Michelle used to pore over blueprints and plans, her eyes burning with her passion for design.

“I have a few ideas,” she said modestly. “But my boss is worried I might turn it into a mosque or a synagogue.”

Kilburn chuckled. “Wouldn’t put it past you.”

“How are Matt and Shayna doing?” Michelle asked, her voice lifting with warmth.

“They’re good,” he said. “Matt was asking about you the other day. Told me you were the reason why I’m not willing to sell the house.”

She was a silent for a moment. “What did you tell him?” she asked cautiously.

“To finish his cornflakes.” Kilburn felt suddenly less certain of himself.

“And Kyra?” Michelle asked.

“She’s sober,” he said, not wanting to dwell on the subject. “You know, day by day and all that.”

“I feel badly for what I said about her, Graham,” Michelle said softly. “I had no right to put Kyra in the middle of our problems. It wasn’t fair to her … or you.”

“Not so, Michelle. After all, Kyra—or at least the lack of boundaries I set with her—was a huge burden on you and us,” Kilburn said. “But she’s doing better now. And if and when that changes, I realize now that I have to draw the line with her. Stop enabling her, as they say.”

“Hmmm,” Michelle said noncommittally.

“Michelle, I’m not staying much longer in Philadelphia. And when I come home”—he paused hoping for a response but got none—“I thought maybe you and I could try … to see if … maybe we could work through some things.”

Her ensuing silence felt worse to him than any physical pain. “Graham, I’ve worked so hard to stop looking back and reliving the mistakes.” She cleared her throat. “I’m thirty-two years old now. I have to move on with my life.”

“You’re right, Michelle,” he said, stinging from her words. “I shouldn’t have called you out of the blue and sprung this on you—”

“Graham, I didn’t mean you. Honestly,” she said gently. “I meant mistakes like blaming you for having an alcoholic sister. Like getting too comfortable with my lifestyle and not taking the next step. This is the first time in my adult life I’ve been on my own. I miss you, but … .”

“But maybe it’s best, huh?” he said resignedly.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Maybe it’s necessary.”

“Okay, Michelle, it was nice hearing your voice. You take care.”

“Graham,” she said evenly, “when you get home, why don’t you call me? We could go for dinner.”

“Dinner?” he said feeling a flicker of optimism.

“Let’s start with a nice dinner,” she said, “then see what happens.”