Brittany announced the party at dinner on Tuesday.

“We're having a housewarming on Saturday. Fifty people. My parents are coming from Florida. Maddie, you'll serve the drinks. Ethan, you'll take coats.”

“It's not a new house,” I said. “We've lived here my whole life.”

Brittany smiled sweetly. “It's new to me.”

She ordered matching aprons for Ethan and me. Black, with The Matthews Home printed on the front in gold letters.

I kept my list, every night, on Ethan's old tablet.

On Thursday, I asked Dad when Mom was coming home. I just wanted to see what he'd say. “Not for months,” he said. “Probably not until next summer. You need to stop asking and get used to the way things are. Brittany's your family now.”

That night, a message from Mom appeared on the tablet.

Flight booked. Landing Saturday, 2 p.m. I'll come straight to the house. Don't tell a soul.

I looked at the date.

Saturday.

The day of the party.

I showed Ethan the message under the covers with a flashlight. It was the first time I'd seen him smile in weeks.