Margaret came over and laid her hand gently on top of mine.

Her fingers felt warm against my cold skin.

“Call me the second you leave the estate,” Margaret said.

“I’ll call you once it’s over,” I said.

I went out to the driveway by myself.

The gravel crunched loudly under the too-big brown loafers.

I opened the driver’s door and set the canvas grocery tote on the passenger seat, right where the waterproof sleeve would pick up the sound of the engine starting.

By three o’clock I was heading south on the interstate.