“Should I wait for you, ma’am?”

“No.” I climbed out with the folder under my arm.

“Take the car back before the traffic gets heavy.

I’ll call if I need a ride in the morning.”

He looked at the house, then at me, and kept whatever he was thinking behind his teeth.

“Watch the steps.

They frost over early out here.”

The taillights shrank to small red points down the drive and turned out through the gate.