“I’m saying this as your mother.

Sign whatever Marcus puts in front of you and let the family handle it.”

“You’ve got nothing else to say?” she said.

“I’m going to drive myself home,” I said.

I shifted into reverse.

She stepped aside without hurrying, the Buick rolled back, and I said nothing more to her.

Two rows over, Arthur was already sitting in their car with both hands on the wheel and the engine off.

At the light on Seventy-Fifth, I checked the mirror.