The Story Continues After Part 2

I glanced toward the kitchen threshold, where Lucas had appeared with his arms folded tightly across his chest. “Lucas is perfectly fine physically, but I was wondering if you might be free to join us for a home-cooked dinner tonight around seven.”

PART 3: The Woman Lucas Could Never Fool

“Seven?” Mrs. Gable repeated. “Of course.

Should I bring my lemon pie?”

“Just yourself,” I said. “There’s something important I’d like you to see.”

Lucas remained by the doorway until I put my phone away. “Who was that?”

“Someone who knows you well.”

“If this is some attempt to embarrass me in front of my brother—”

“Your brother can help you clean up the living room.”

He laughed, certain I was bluffing.

“You’re making a scene because I moved an air mattress.”

“No,” I told him.

“I’m responding to the fact that you made a seventy-year-old woman recovering from chemotherapy climb down to a basement while you watched a football game.”

There was a pause.

Then his brother Derek called from the guest room, asking whether there were any more beers.