“He could not remember the reason,” Christopher answered softly.

Martha looked down at her weathered hands.

“I was upset with him the morning he left home because our water heater had broken down, and he said he would fix it after his site inspection.

I told him he always had time for broken public roads, but never enough time for our broken home.”

Christopher reached out and took her hand.

“He specifically mentioned how beautiful you looked in your blue dress.”