Chapter 6 — Four Years Ago

Four years ago.

It was the only time in twenty-six years that he had come back to this town at all — for his uncle’s funeral.

He had stayed three days, meaning to stay one.

And on the second night, a rain-soaked night when he could not sleep and could not stand the house full of relatives, he had gone to a quiet roadhouse tavern outside town, and Mabel had been there.

They had talked for hours.