I had watched that gesture for years.

She did it when preparing a bill, discussing a repair, or deciding how to answer a question she disliked.

It had once made me feel we would work something out carefully.

Now I waited to hear the answer before deciding what it meant.

“You said you were away that night,” I said.

“I left for an errand.”

“Were you away when I arrived?”

Taylor pressed the corner of the folder flat.