“In a minute,” I said.

She put down the knife, came over to my chair, and bent to rest her hand on my shoulder.

“You’ve been quiet ever since we got off the highway,” she said softly.

“Are you worried about the merger meeting?”

“The merger’s right on schedule,” I said.

“Good,” she said, tapping a long nail on the edge of the table.

“The regional directors are expecting the signed papers Friday the eighteenth.”

“I know what day the signing is,” I said.