The house felt quiet, anticipating guests who were a week away. Funny, it felt almost like a living, breathing thing when it was full of visitors and a sleeping giant when no one filled the rooms upstairs. But I never felt uncomfortable here when I was alone. I guess that was as good a sign as I was getting I'd fallen in love with my life.

I went downstairs to my apartment, Petunia huffing her waddling way in front of me. Two pounds lost or not, she had a way to go yet, ...