Alan pushed by his mom and Matt and slithered down the rope ladder to join his Aunt Isobella. When his aunt turned and walked away, Alan defiantly flicked Matt the bird before running after her.

A wall of silence dropped between Matt and Susan as they faced each other. The screen door slapped rhythmically in the breeze against the treehouse’s siding. He felt a sudden uptick in the breeze against his skin, a signal of its intent, as it grabbed the opened screen portal and slammed it shut. The...