“Absolutely. I’ll call you back without the video since you’re driving.”
“I’m sitting in a long-assed line for a coffee and some fat and sugar. Me and everyone else in Northern Virginia. This is going to be a while.”
“Okay, so what’s the shit?”
“My ex called. Someone went to his place of business and repossessed his truck in front of everyone—his boss in particular. And he lit into me about it.”
“You?” Sommer moved to her cushioned porch swing and snuggled comfortably into the pillows.
“I told him I didn’t do anything about his truck. Turns out that because I took care of the finances when we were married, he apparently hadn’t realized there was a loan with a monthlypayment. He also didn’t realize he should update his bank loan to his new address. So I guess the bank ended up tracking him down to his office.”
“That was what? A year ago you split? The bank was being generous.” Sommer pressed her toe onto the painted boards to make the swing sway.
“I handled things until the divorce papers were signed and filed because I didn’t want any of his stupidity to blow back on my credit score. So six months of non-payment.”
“Still,” Sommer said.
“So I said, ‘We’re divorced. You’re going to have to figure all that stuff out on your own.’”
“And he apologized?” A breeze brushed past the rose bush that stood taller than Sommer’s head, laden with magenta shore roses. The scent was romantic and old-fashioned, and she closed her eyes to focus on the magic of it. Had she been with her own ex, Michael, she’d have missed out on moments like these. What she didn’t miss was Michael.
“Hardly,” Abbie said. “He goes, ‘Okay, but my head hurts, and my migraine prescription ran out.”
“What?” Sommer asked. “Why would you care?”
“Because I always handled that, too. I put it on my planner when all the medications needed to be called in for refills. I told him to go talk to the pharmacist. And honestly, I swore to myself that this was the last time I’d answer a call like this. So then I told him that the only reason I wasn’t blocking his number was that Gramps is in the hospital, and I answered the call because I thought he was letting me know what was going on. He said, ‘Gramps is in the hospital? Why?’ So I hung up.”
“Are you blocking his number?” Sommer asked.
“I love Gramps.”
“Everyone loves Gramps. But if he didn’t know his own grandfather was having issues, and he can’t keep track of hismeds and his truck, do you think he’d have his shit together enough to call you?”
“Fair point. I’ll block his number.”
“Oh, hey, I have some new Goth-hound footage if you want to come by my place while I’m at work. I was singing a new song.”
“I can do that,” Abbie said. “Equally sad?”
“Heart-wrenching.Purcell’s Dido’s Lament. I set up the tripod and went ahead and sang that section on video.”
“Okay, I don’t remember that one. But I’ll hear it when I get there.”
“Yeah, and Abbie, this is probably the last time I want to do this.”
“Is there a story behind that, or are you just getting bored?”
“I woke up early and decided to take advantage of the day. I was in the mood to check things off my to-do list. I got in the shower and did my vocal warm-ups.”
“Because who doesn’t love to sing in the shower?” Abbie asked.
“When I got out, I began my song. I wrapped myself in a towel and went to get my clothes when I heard Goth-hound.”
“Interesting. What time was it?”
“Maybe five? It was still pretty dark outside. The streetlamps were still on. And I know this because the howls sounded closer, so I had gone to my window to look out. Usually, Graves stops at the stop sign just on the edge of what my doorbell camera can pick up. But today, he and Goth-hound walked up my street, looking at the church.”
“No!”
