Marcus looked around the living room at the pictures of Valerie’s family while she was popping the popcorn. The mantle over the fireplace had a large display of family pictures all down it. There were several pictures of Valerie at different ages. He smiled. Even with braces, she had always been beautiful. He studied the family photo. There was an older couple. They must be her mom and dad, he thought. There was a boy, a little older than Valerie and another girl, who towered over the other two children. He walked down the row studying the pictures as he went.
“Here’s the popcorn,” Valerie brought a large bowl and two glasses of lemonade, on a tray. She sat them down on the table in front of the sofa and turned to see Marcus looking at family pictures.
“That’s my brother and sister,” she
