Conference with Arthur.

I woke before the alarm and put on the green cardigan he had given me for my birthday.

Arthur’s conference room smelled of lemon polish and coffee that had been sitting since morning.

The table could seat fourteen, and we used four chairs.

Ruth, the receptionist, brought me a paper cup with one butterscotch candy in the bottom.

“You look nice,” she said.

“That green is a good color on you.” She set the cup by my elbow the way you would set down a teacup.