At 5:06 a.m., my sister walked into the house I bo…

It took less than a day for the underlying truth to show itself. Christina was not moving toward a dream.

She was running from a disaster. I learned that because Jonathan got arrogant. At around two in the afternoon, he took a call on the back patio and forgot I had cracked the kitchen window open.

I wasn’t listening at first. I was making tea. Then I heard my address spoken in a voice too tense for casual conversation.

“No, because once the residency issue is settled, the asset picture improves,” Jonathan said. Pause. “I’m telling you, it’s temporary.

I have control of the property within forty-eight hours. Christina’s parents already signed. We’ll be in the house by the weekend, and then the optics on paper change.”

I stood very still with the kettle in my hand.

Optics on paper. Not home. Not family.

Optics. There was another pause. Jonathan’s voice sharpened.