Eighteen Years After Ray Abandoned Him on a Dirt Road, Thomas Found His Mother’s Letter

“No,” Arthur said.

“He can’t.”

She picked up the pen.

Her signature came out slow and tidy, and when she was done she laid the pen down perfectly parallel to the page.

The assistant pressed down the seal.

Diane folded her hands again.

“Ray phoned me this morning,” she said.

“He wants to take us to dinner Wednesday at the Fireside Grill.”