He had seen it on grocery lists.
Birthday cards.
Permission slips.
Divorce papers.
Laura.
His ex-wife.
Nora tilted her head.
“Daniel?”
He did not answer.
“Your breathing changed.”
He looked at her.
“What did you find?”
Daniel turned the envelope over.
Sealed.
Laura's handwriting again across the flap.
Do not open in front of Nora unless she asks.
His stomach turned.
“Daniel?”
He forced himself to speak.
“An envelope.”
“For who?”
“For me.”
Nora went completely still.
“What does it say?”
Daniel hesitated.
Then read the front aloud.
The color drained from Nora’s face.
“Chloe?”
“My daughter.”
Nora's lips parted.
“Why would she mention your daughter?”
“I don't know.”
He looked toward the road.
Then at Nora.
“But I know exactly who wrote this.”
“Who?”
Daniel could barely believe the answer himself.
“My ex-wife.”
Nora's cane slipped slightly in her hand.
He caught it before it hit the ground, then immediately released it back to her.
“Sorry.”
She did not seem to notice.
“What is your ex-wife’s name?”
Daniel stared.
“Laura.”
Nora made a sound.
Not quite a gasp.
Daniel’s chest tightened.
“You know her.”
Nora turned her face away.
The rain hid tears, but her voice did not.
“She’s the woman who left me here.”
Chloe opened the front door before Daniel reached the porch.
She wore purple pajama pants, one sock, and a T-shirt with a cartoon astronaut on the front.
Her hair looked like she had lost a fight with static electricity.
“Dad!”
Daniel stepped inside.
Rainwater ran from his shirt onto the tile.
“I said ten minutes.”
“That was an hour ago.”
“I know.”
Chloe noticed Nora behind him.
Her expression changed.
Not fear.
Curiosity.
“Who’s that?”
Daniel glanced at Nora.
“She’s Nora.”
Chloe looked at the white cane.
“Oh.”
Daniel waited for the question he knew every child asked.
Chloe surprised him.
“Do you want me to tell you where stuff is?”
Nora’s face softened.
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
Chloe pointed automatically, then remembered.
“The couch is straight ahead about eight steps.”
Daniel looked at his daughter.
Nora smiled.
“Thank you.”
“I move things a lot, though.”
“Chloe.”
“What?”
“She should know.”
Nora laughed quietly.
It was the first real laugh Daniel had heard.
Chloe decided instantly that Nora belonged inside.
Children were frighteningly efficient.
“Are you hungry?”
“A little.”
“Dad made frozen pizza.”
Daniel stared at her.