Chapter 61

Memory took his hand and led him up the stairs, noticing her bird friends were not on the window ledge. She unlocked the door, bracing herself against the musty smell that always hit her in the face. It didn’t smell like her grandma’s house, and she hated that.

She let Dak take in the beauty of the foyer, the molding, the staircase, the flooring, and tried not to stare at the empty chair in the parlor. Once she was sure he’d had enough time to marvel over the entry, she took him to the ballroom.

Pushing through the double doors, she stood aside and watched his face as he gasped at the beautiful space and the potential the room had to fulfill all of his dreams of creating a place where the older folks in town could gather and visit, hold get-togethers and parties, and find a warm meal on a cold day. She imagined there were lots of other groups of people who could use the space, too, and she couldn’t wait to hear w