“He is still my son.

I will want to send him something at Christmas, and you will have to let me.”

“Send it,” I said.

“Just don’t send it out of the account he emptied.”

She let go of my hand and went inside with her hand on the railing, and David came out with two glasses and handed me one.

He tapped his wedding ring against the rim, then caught himself and set the glass down on the rail.

“I keep waiting for the next call,” he said.