Denise heard the timer before she heard the knock, which was how most of her mornings went. The cinnamon rolls came out first, then the coffee, then whatever the day wanted from her. It was six in the morning on Cleveland Avenue and already warm enough to make the butter sweat.
Her husband had set that timer to go off twice, a short beep and then a long one, because he said the second beep was for the baker and the first was for the bread. Three years after the funeral she still waited for both. She had never learned how to change it back.
The knock came again. Through the front glass she saw a tall man in a gray work shirt standing on the porch next door, pointing at hers. He held up a level like it was a question.
This is as far as the free sample goes. The rest of Porch Light Season is waiting for you.
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