He’s a mess.” He said it quietly and then said nothing, and the refrigerator kicked on between us.

“I keep thinking if I hand him one square inch of trust, he’ll remember what to do with it.”

“He wants her to sign Sunday.

That’s two days.”

David set the glass down and turned the check again with one finger.

“Then we call Carl tonight.”

Carl’s office smelled of the lemon polish he used on the desk, and the speakerphone sat between us with its little red light on.

“Fairview Savings and Loan,” the teller said.