“Lily wants to know if you can help with her math homework before bed,” he said.

“Tell her I’ll be up in five minutes,” I said.

He turned and went back upstairs, his boots thudding on the pine steps.

I smoothed the crumpled paper out flat on the cold metal lid of the washer.

I folded the hotel receipt carefully along its original crease.

I tucked it deep into the leather slot of my wallet and snapped the metal clasp shut.

The morning sun struck the side mirror of my Ford pickup at eight.