“By the neighbor I asked to stay with her, yes.”

Carmen lowered her eyes to her plate.

Frank picked up his fork again, and I left them with the meal they had arranged so carefully.

In the hallway, Carmen caught up with me before I reached the front door.

“Mauricio, wait.”

I turned.

She had followed me without her cardigan, and she held it folded over one arm.

“Why did you tell Renata that the letter might make me stop wanting her?”