The proposed closing could not safely proceed on the assumption that my consent and the funding were uncontested.

It was a concrete problem for Ronald, although it did not return all the missing money that night.

I had kept Ethan’s spare clothes at home.

Now I folded them in the motel room and packed them in small grocery-store boxes.

His yellow sweater went on top.

I tried not to look at the empty place where I expected him to be sitting while I worked.

I had arranged a small two-bedroom apartment near the park as a contingency.