“It’s a generous choice,” I said.

Evelyn picked up her water glass and took a slow sip.

“Brandon called me this morning on his drive to work,” she said.

“Did his old sedan start in this cold?” I asked.

“It did,” Evelyn said.

“He told me he finished his first solo commercial credit audit yesterday afternoon.”

She smiled softly, a real look of rest settling over her face.

We hadn’t spoken of Samantha or the Crown Plaza incident in weeks.