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“I know I’m not making sense.”

“Damn right you aren’t.” She crosses her arms. “When I suggested you let some things go, I didn’t mean give them away.”

I shake my head. I can’t make her understand without telling her everything.

“I just want to do the right thing. Maybe make something good out of this mess.”

A man comes out of Riverview carrying a leash with no dog attached. He nods at me.

“Hey there, Paul.”

“Hi, Lenny.”

“You find us a new handyman yet? Cooper got through the gate again.”

“I’ll have someone soon.”

He laughs. “Renny said the same thing last summer. You seen him?”

I blush a little. “No, sorry.”

Lenny waves his hand. “He’s just up on the walking bridge making friends with the other pups.”

He heads down the sidewalk, leash dragging and judging me.

I turn to Jessica.

“Maybe Riverview needs someone new.”

“Maybe you’re right.” Her face changes. “But let the process run its course. If you aren’t obligated to sell, then you can choose to sell.”

I look at the rusted gate.

“That’ll take months.”

Her voice gentles. “What brought this on?”

I almost say his name.

“I’m tired of the confusion.”

Jessica says nothing. The river wind moves up the street, warm and damp, lifting the edge of her blouse.

“I don’t want it gutted,” I say. “I don’t want someone turning it into gray luxury boxes with a lobby bar and a name like The Riv.”

Jessica nods. “The Riv would be a crime. Let’s talk about this after the estate is settled.”

I look at her.

“And Clint?”

“Talk to Reggie,” she says. “See what kind of offer you could make to end it.”

We start walking again, past Riverview and along the river, wide and brown and glittering hard in the afternoon sun.

“I’m still not sleeping upstairs.”

“I know.”