“I’ve got it handled,” I said.
“Are you sure? Daniel can rent a truck.”
“I’m sure.”
On the last day, I went to the garage.
To the metal shelf.
Between the Christmas decorations and the bottled water.
I took down the sign.
Still wrapped in the bath towel.
Renee saw me.
“Oh,” she said. “That old thing. I forgot that was in there.”
“It was Harold’s,” I said.
“What does it say?”
I didn’t unwrap it.
“It says what home means,” I said.
Chloe came out to the driveway while I was loading the last box into my Buick.
Twelve years old. In her school uniform. With her backpack still on.
She stood there for a long time.
“Grandma,” she said. “I’m sorry.”
I looked at her.
“For what, sweetheart?”
“For not saying anything,” Chloe said. “At dinner. When Dad asked.”
Her eyes filled up.
