The house was so far back from the main road that there wasn't a car to be heard. A woodpecker tapped in the distance. A whippoorwill called, the sound oddly relaxing. She was used to noise. Car horns. Irate morning commuters. At the very least, church bells from down the street when in Milwaukee. She didn't know whether to find the quiet peaceful or disturbing.

Her dad came outside twenty minutes later. He halted before reaching a nearby chair, staring at the caked batter in ...