“Bye, Margaret,” Vanessa called.

“So good to see you, right?”

Vanessa got into her spotless luxury SUV and closed the door.

Margaret and I stood in the afternoon sun and watched the white SUV roll down the gravel and turn out onto the highway.

The gray dust drifted slowly back down onto the driveway behind her.

Margaret climbed the porch steps and drummed her fingernails on the wooden railing.

She passed me the warm bakery bag.