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After pulling on a tank top and flannel pajama bottoms, Ben headed downstairs, hardwood smooth under his bare feet At the bottom of the stairs, he paused at the fraie that day on the Road to the Sun The crinkles still showed in the faded paper, but Jason’s pencil strokes were strong and true

He couldn’t iie A terrible ordeal had cemented their bond, but they’d survived it Not siether

He sed thickly and laughed at hiot a little eers on the wooden picture fraie still saw a local therapist every month, and was one of the most reet Harlan Brown, but he was a speck in the rearview mirror

Ben walked into the open-concept kitchen and squeezed Maggie’s shoulder on his way to the coffeeroo with sliding doors to the wide verandah, where Ben’s rocking chairs sat, dew glistening on the faded wood

At the little round kitchen table where they usually ate, Maggie had gathered a few gifts and cards, the rising sun highlighting her long, golden hair “Hey Happy birthday!” She held up a box with an artful eye-roll “Fro super pretentious and ‘zen’ or whatever now that they’ve discovered Buddhishtened, don’t you know”

Ben laughed “Oh, I know They mean well”

Holding Dylan, Jason appeared and strapped hi as we never have to chant at dinner again A sirace will do me”

“Andwe only see them about once a year” Ben poured a cup of coffee fro the rich, bitter scent deeply “Next ti those red string bracelets Madonna used to”

“Who?” Maggie asked

Ben pulled out his chair beside hers “Ha, ha You were singing along to her new song on the way hoht”

She held up a cream-colored envelope “This one’s fro froht when he remembers at the last second”

Jason sat and sipped aof coffee “But we love him anyway” He screwed the lid on a sippy cup and helped Dylan slurp “Should we start with cards?”