He took that as an invitation and sat down on the very edge of my narrow mattress, the springs creaking slightly under his weight.

“Good,” he said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.

“Because Sloan and I were talking in the car on the way back.

We want to take you out for a proper pancake breakfast on Sunday morning.

That place over in Grandview with the fresh syrup.”

“That’s nice of you,” I said.

“We need to get you out of the house for a bit,” he said smoothly.

“And while we’re turning over a new leaf, I was thinking about your affairs.