Chapter 4

As we turn the car onto Rolling Hills Lane, a flood of memories hits me: the first few months when Ashley was five and I was nine, and we couldn’t understand what had happened to our parents, Poppi and Gran at our soccer games, my senior party before I left for college. Mostly all good. Then Gran died, and we worried about Poppi’s pervasive sadness

As if we had been saying these things aloud, Ashley suddenly says, “Nik, if Poppi has fun with this woman, then I’m happy for him. No matter what we think of her. He deserves to have a good time and have someone like him.”

“You’re right. Maybe Lenore is exactly what he needs.” And at that moment we pull up to the imposing log house. Poppi’s old Toyota truck is in the driveway along with a new-looking yellow Volkswagen Beetle. Maybe Lenore is already here—I know Aunt Janice would never buy such a cool car…” Well, at least we’ll get the meeting over with right away…