We carried the boxes to his porch and arranged them neatly.
Barbara placed a handwritten note on top.
YOU WANTED YOUR OWN LIFE. HERE IT IS.
I looked at her.
“This is the plan?”
“The first part.”
“There’s more?”
“Much more.”
We waited from a short distance away.
About twenty minutes later, Eric opened the door.
He stopped.
“What is all this?”
Tessa came out behind him holding coffee.
She picked up a trophy.
“Why is your childhood on the porch?”
“I don’t know.”
Then Eric found the note.
A few seconds later, Barbara stepped into view.
“Mom?”
“Good morning.”
“What are you doing?”
“You said you wanted your own life. I’m no longer storing the old one for you.”
Eric shook his head.
“You’re doing this because Claire complained.”
“No,” Barbara said. “I’m doing it because I finally know what happened.”
Eric looked at the boxes.
