“I’m finished paying your mortgage.”

On the kitchen counter next to the dish rack lay the brass key to the latch on her dining room pantry.

I had brought it in from the entryway earlier, meaning to slip it back into her handbag.

I looked at the shiny metal key lying on the tile and decided not to pick it up.

I left it right where it was.

Margaret got up from the wooden chair, shoving it back so hard the legs screeched across the linoleum.