He wiped his hands on a paper towel.

“Look, she was just being helpful,” he said.

I set the heavy knife down next to the vegetables.

The kitchen window was open, letting in the faint smell of ocean salt from the harbor.

I waited for him to explain.

“Were you talking to her today?” I asked.

He checked his watch again.

“She sent me a quick text this morning,” Ethan said.