"I'll be there in about fifteen minutes," I told Amy over the phone.
"Perfect. It'll be good to see you. You're doing okay?"
"Yes," I replied.
"Are you sure?"
I rolled my eyes. "Positive. See you in a few."
We said goodbye, and I started up the car to head east of downtown to the Lakewood area where my sister lived with her husband James and their two girls. I pulled in front of my sister's ranch-style house and braced myself more of her sympathy. Before I could get Natalie out of the car, the front door swung open, and Alice, my older niece, came running out. Amy trailed behind her.
"Uncle Nick!"
"Hey, how was soccer?"
"We won! And I scored a goal!" Alice grinned.
"Brava! High five!" I slapped hands with my nine-year-old niece.
We all walked in and to the back of the house where
