2401 Henderson Pines Court, Tucker, GA 30084

The house was solid, built to last. White brick, crisp against the green sweep of the corner lawn, black roof neat as a haircut. New picture windows watched everything, kids racing bicycles, the neighbor’s tulips blowing in the breeze, the father rolling up his sleeves to go organize his tools and work on his red Ford Mustang in the garage. Inside, wood floors caught the tap of sneakers, the shuffle of socks, the scratch of a toy truck in the hall. The kitchen was all honest craftsmanship. Solid wood cabinets, green and maple, ready for spilled cereal, Sunday roast and whispered midnight snacks. Christmas was their favorite holiday. The smell of fir needles, colored lights tangled and untangled while the turkey cooked in the oven. Laughter built up like snowdrifts. The backyard, private and flat, played host to snowball fights, angel impressions, boots left by the patio door. Memorial Day was for the grill and the flag, for stories told over hamburgers, for sticky lemonade, for the … read more …