The first time Grant asked to apologize in person, he did it through Nia.

He proposed meeting in a café near her office and said he would come alone.

I agreed because I wanted to know whether he could speak truthfully without his father supplying the words.

We met at noon, with Nia nearby but not at our table.

Grant looked tired.

The costly watch was gone, and he wore a plain blue shirt under his jacket.

I knew enough about appearances by then not to interpret clothing as character.