“Ten months,” Evelyn said, reading over her husband’s arm.

“That isn’t a mistake.

That’s a season of a man’s life.”

“The girl from the Christmas party,” Ruth said from the far end.

“The one who telephoned here in August and hung up when I answered.”

Nobody corrected her.

Julian came around the side of the table.

Arthur pushed his chair back and set both broad palms flat on the tabletop, and Julian stopped where he stood.