ELARA'S POV
We went to Tacoma again. My parents had started expecting it, which meant my mother began planning the menu in November and my father had the spare bedroom ready without being asked. It had become the thing we did and the ease of that was its own kind of gift.
Damien brought wine and a chess set for my father, which was either inspired or dangerous given Richard's recent obsession had apparently filtered into conversation between the two of them.
My father opened it and looked at Damien.
"You play?" Thomas asked.
"Badly. But I'm willing to learn."
They played for two hours after Christmas dinner while my mother and I sat in the living room and listened to them disagree about strategy through the wall.
"Your father is teaching him," my mother said.
"Damien is letting him
