She did not tell Daniel that his father would have been ashamed to see him standing there.
She simply got up, washed her face, combed her hair, and put on the same black dress because she had not yet found the strength to choose ordinary clothes.
In the hallway, she paused beside the pencil marks on the doorframe.
Daniel, age six.
Ashley, age eight.
Daniel, age twelve, after a summer growth spurt that made Robert laugh and say they would need taller doorways.
Margaret touched the marks with two fingers.
