I had thought about it for the whole drive and that was what I came up with, and I think it was right, because there is no good way to arrange that sentence and every arrangement that is not first is a way of getting ready.

My daughter did not say anything for about fifteen seconds.

Then she said, “Say the rest of it.”

So I said the rest of it.

The Thursday phone call.

The Denny’s on Hammer Lane.

What she offered — supervised, monthly, with Ximena there, with a counselor, whatever I wanted, in writing.

What I said.