“She would have hated the theft,” Ruth said.

“She would not have hated you for taking too long to believe it.

She took too long to believe things about people she loved as well.

That is a family talent.

Use it once and then stop.”

After we hung up I made toast and ate it standing up, which was not the dignified recovery anyone writes about and was still better than coffee alone.

I also had to speak to the senior staff who had built their careers beside Daniel.