Chapter 16

“Your mother called when you were cataloging one day,” Theo explained. “I think you discussed some items she’d found of yours. From your school days, perhaps? You told her to ship them to the house.”

Annie remembered that incident. She couldn’t recall the exact conversation, but the box in question still sat in her small storage locker in the garage, unopened and unexamined. Stuff she’d left behind, the summers she’d lived at home during college. Her mother always made her take art classes with her at the Y during those months. A chance to reconnect, she always said.

Annie had forgotten all about them.

“I’m not really an artist,” she said to Quin, though her focus never left Theo. “Just some general courses my mom dragged me to when I was younger.” She forgot the ham and cheese, and crossed to the table, sitting down opposite Theo. “I can’t believe you remember that.”

“You and Quin are all I have. Why wouldn’t I remember it?”