He paid his own bill in cash and told me to close the joint ledger.”

“He closed it?” she asked.

“He said your household accounts were being separated,” Pete said, dropping his voice so the two fishermen in booth three wouldn’t hear.

“He told me any future coffee or breakfasts for you should go on a separate ticket.”

Caroline reached down to touch her leather handbag, feeling the hard outline of her yellow tape measure through the lining.

“Did he leave anything to clear the forty-two dollars from last week?”