That made everything more complicated.
It did not make it worse.
Dad spread butter across his pancake.
“You don’t have to decide everything before speaking to her.”
I looked at him.
This from a man who had produced a written assessment.
“You made a file about her.”
“Preparation and inflexibility are different things.”
Mom looked at him.
“That may be the wisest sentence you’ve ever said.”
“I have said many wise things.”
“Name two.”
Dad returned to his pancake.
After breakfast, Mom left to buy groceries despite the house containing enough food to survive a regional emergency.
Dad returned to the drawer.
I went upstairs.
My phone sat on the desk beside Molly’s photograph.
No new messages from Annie.
She was giving me the space I had asked for.
I appreciated it.
I also checked the screen every six minutes.
Both facts had to coexist.
I opened our conversation.
The last exchange was from the previous afternoon.
Annie:Tell the mayor I accept responsibility.
Me:She’ll form a committee.
I typed:
My father made a file about you.
I sent it before reconsidering.
Her reply arrived less than a minute later.
