I did not tell him I had already spoken to Mr.

Callahan.

I did not tell him I knew Brenda wanted an apartment.

He interpreted my silence as hesitation rather than preparation, which gave me a few more days to make sure nothing had been submitted without my knowledge.

Later, as I loaded the dishwasher, I heard Gertrude whisper from the hall, “Don’t push her too fast.

She’ll come around.”

Kenneth replied, “She has to.”

I stood still with a plate in my hand.