After the dishes, Arthur found me on the back porch.

The air had turned cold enough for a jacket, and he hadn’t put one on.

He stood with his hands in his pockets and his shoulders hunched.

“She means well,” he said.

“Your mother.”

“She had Marcus write up a release without telling me.”

Arthur rubbed his thumb over his wedding ring.

“Marcus says the schedules are locked until someone signs off.”