“Dad?” he called, taking three steps toward the driveway.

“Are you heading down to the hardware store?”

I didn’t answer.

I didn’t raise my voice, and I didn’t step back up onto the porch.

“We need your answer on the rent schedule before Friday,” Melissa called from the garage.

I opened the back door of the taxi and sat down on the dark vinyl seat.

“Where to, sir?” the driver asked, meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror.

“Just take us out through the main gates for now,” I said.