The Unwanted Blessing

arried by the mailman who only cam

me, Sarah Miller, though most

er, with the "Miller's Markets" logo

close in over ten years,

nine, when Dad deci

bender, a supplier backing out,

started whe

t Dad' s voic

is, who was already old then, and whe

e Ozark community, full of old w

had a "gift," not

fuller near where I weeded, or when a s

Sadie," she'd say, "and things

. It was an invitat

rthday gala. My

red one,

e. It is an obligation," the stiffl

me read it, he

d?" she asked, her

g a cold dread.

er, Elara pressed a small, ha

river stone, co

y. "When you feel the tide turn against yo

y piece of this mounta

ler mansion was bigger than I remembered,

door. His eyes, cold as a winter river, s

his voice clippe

, no welcome. Just

way of a massive living r

the cat dragged in from

air and expensive clothe

ill of being the outsi

y reunion, it was a

the unwelc