“Mary said she was shivering hard and crying, but she had her coat on,” I said.

“Dad, Trevor lied to me on the phone.

He told me she was in her room having a tantrum.”

My father paused, and over the phone I heard the sharp, distinct click of his silver pocket watch cover opening and snapping closed.

“Don’t worry about a thing right now, Valerie.

I’ll take care of things here,” my father said.

“What do you plan to do?” I asked.

“I’m putting on my winter coat and driving my truck across town,” he said.