“Who was on the phone?”

“The rental company.

They’re very particular about vans.” She said vans the way a person says a word they have practiced.

“At eight at night?”

“They’re open late.” She tapped the screen again, though the screen was dark.

I went past her to the linen closet and got a fresh towel.

When I came out, she was already in the kitchen with the legal pad under her arm.

At nine I sat at the kitchen island to enter the deposit in my ledger.