Nobody spoke for several seconds.

Outside the café window, cyclists passed in bright coats, the world continuing in the ordinary fashion it always had whenever mine fell apart.

“Do you know why Colton wants a divorce?” I asked.

Joanna looked genuinely surprised.

“A divorce?

He told me he was preparing an independent-living plan for you.

He said you were afraid he’d be trapped as your caregiver forever.”

I turned toward Evelyn.