“Why didn’t you come directly?” I asked.

“Because thirty-two years of absence do not give me permission to demand space in your life.

I wanted you to have the chance to choose whether to reply.”

I remembered the ivory envelope that had fallen onto the floor as I crawled toward the door.

“I saw one last night.

I don’t know how long it was there.”

“That was a third notice,” Warren said.

“Camille sent it when the investigator found your current address.