NINE
Upon our arrival, Mama had warmly welcomed Lysander, but Papa had been standoffish. Zinnia had dragged Lysander about the farm, showing him everything of note, and many things I'm sure he found trivial. He didn't complain, though. Not once.
The next morning, he'd risen from his makeshift bed in the sitting room, following Papa outside and quietly shadowing my father's work. Then, the next morning, Lysander woke before the rest of us, feeding the livestock and mucking out the stalls. Lysander's willingness to step in and help won Papa over, and after that, he and my father spent their days outside, working side by side.
With Papa keeping Lysander busy, I had more time than I'd have liked to dwell on the Mother's silence. I'd attempted to reach them, even going as far as leaving out
