An Invitation

His sister visited the following month. June helped bake a cake and discovered that Eli always measured vanilla twice. Nobody delivered a speech about forgiveness. They washed dishes, argued about music, and made room at the table. Later, June and Eli walked to the station. Beneath the dry shelter, he gave her an envelope. Inside was an invitation to dinner, with tomorrow's date. "You could just ask," she said. "I am practising," he replied. She wrote yes on the back and put it into his hand.