I put my hand on his shoulder.

He didn’t turn around.

Brandon took a folded blue dress shirt from his suitcase and smoothed the collar before laying it in the bottom drawer.

The room still smelled of cedar and the lavender soap Evelyn always kept in the guest bath.

His old high school debate trophies sat on the top bookshelf, gathering a thin layer of dust.

“I’ll set my alarm for five thirty tomorrow,” Brandon said.

“The regional loan office opens at seven,” I said.