He placed the receiver back onto the wall cradle without slamming it.

He stood there for a second, his palm resting against the cold wall, watching the steam rise from the pot.

“Did I say that right?” he asked, turning around to face me.

“You said what needed to be said,” I replied.

“She called twice yesterday while you were at the clinic,” Ethan said.

I stopped stirring the salad greens and looked up at him.

“And?”