“Then you’ll see them twice.” She took the slip back, drew a box around the number, and slid it over again.

“Ask him tonight, Margaret.

Out loud.

Don’t write it down first.”

The stairs to the basement were narrow and carpeted, and Lucas was coming up them with the furnace filters under one arm when I got to the landing.

“Lucas.”

“Look.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“I’m just getting these in before the cold.”