I’d like somebody else to read it out loud, because I don’t want it to be me.”

Nobody moved for a moment.

Then Arthur put his glasses on and picked up the phone and read it, in the flat voice of a man reading a utility notice, and put it back down on the table.

The silence went on for a long time.

Patricia said, “September.”

Chloe was looking at her hands.

“Chloe,” Wendy said.

“How long.”