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furniture at least once a month and this time was no different. A beautiful oak curio cabinet sat in the corner and nearly matched the dining room table to perfection. Taryn set the glasses in their right place setting as she thought about what to say, knowing that Ethan wouldn’t have given any specifics about Ryland. “I’m glad that you got to come over before the two of you leave.”
    “I’m sure we’ll be back by next week,” Taryn replied, not knowing anything of the sort. Who knew how long they’d be gone or what they would find that would lead them to travel on to another city and state. She hadn’t had a chance to look at her calendar, ensuring that she wouldn’t miss any appointments while they were away. She’d have to do that before turning in tonight. “Have you picked out what you’ll plant in this year’s garden?”
    The change of topic had Mrs. Chambers discussing her numerous fruit trees and what vegetables that she’d like to grow this year. Ethan and his dad finally joined them in the kitchen and it wasn’t long before dinner was on the table. The four of them sat down and dug in, Taryn melting in her chair as the delicious comfort food hit her taste buds. She pushed aside every worry and let herself enjoy the company and meal. The discussions ranged from the weather to books and then over to the latest movies that Mr. and Mrs. Chambers had seen lately. Every once in a while Ethan would look her way but she couldn’t decipher why. An hour later, everyone had helped clear their dishes and now she and his mom had returned to the kitchen.
    “Thank you so much, Mrs. Chambers,” Taryn said, scooping out the remainder of the potatoes so that she could store them into the refrigerator overnight, knowing Ethan’s mother would be making them into potato patties for breakfast. Ethan and his dad had retired to the living room. “This was a perfect sendoff. Who knows when Ethan and I will eat another decent meal?”
    “Anytime, dear. We always enjoy Sunday dinner, but since you and Ethan will be traveling, at least we were able to get together before you leave.”
    “Too bad I can’t take some of this with me.” Taryn reached for the vegetable bowl with the leftover corn and went about scooping the tiny kernels into a plastic bowl. “That lasagna you made me a month ago lasted me a full week.”
    “You know, I worry about him,” Mrs. Chambers said, loading another plate into the dishwasher as if she hadn’t just changed the subject. Taryn was still busy with putting the leftovers into storage containers, but she stopped when she heard the concern in the older woman’s voice. Had something happened to Ethan that Taryn wasn’t aware of? It wouldn’t surprise her as she’d been caught up in her own troubles. It made her feel even more culpable than before. “Ethan should be settling down by now, getting married and having children.”
    Taryn didn’t know how to respond to that, and when she snapped the lid onto the plastic bowl it resounded through the kitchen. Where was this discussion going? Mrs. Chambers turned around and reached for the serving bowl that Taryn had just emptied. She smiled tenderly and Taryn had an uncomfortable feeling that this conversation was about to take a turn.
    “You should too,” Mrs. Chambers said softly, a fretfulness tinting her words. “The two of you work such long hours, how can either of you have a personal life? Ethan will be thirty years old next week and you’re two years older than him. Don’t you think about having a family?”
    “I’m sure that will happen in time, Mrs. Chambers.” Taryn placed her hands on the counter and focused her sights on the caring and overly thoughtful woman. With everything going on, Taryn had forgotten that Ethan’s birthday was next week. She would try her damnedest to make sure Ethan was back to celebrate it with his family. It might not be important to him but it was significant to his parents. As for