I said, “Is it still happening?”

And Odile said, “I don’t know yet.”

“When will you know?”

And my daughter said: “When I see her.”

Which I did not understand at the time and which I understand completely now.

The van was in the lower parking lot.

Manny had driven it up that morning, still not knowing what was in it, because Odile had told him it was a surprise for the reception and he is a man who takes people at their word, which is the single best thing about him and which is why she is going to be all right.

The process server was confirmed for six p.m.