“I have appointments in town,” I said.

Brandon laughed again, a tight sound that ended in a quick cough.

“Make sure you don’t get lost at the strip mall, Avery,” Brandon said.

I left the dining room and walked out through the front hall toward the driveway.

At eleven o’clock, I crossed the damp gravel driveway toward the small stone guesthouse behind the main garage.

The morning mist had lifted, leaving a cold wind blowing off Lake Anne.

Victoria was standing on the narrow wooden porch, her wool coat draped over her shoulders like a cape.