“I kept a piece of pork chop for you.”

“I’ve got work calls tonight,” I said.

She leaned in closer, her eyes sweeping the dark gravel around my shoes.

“The mortgage company sent another notice yesterday,” she whispered.

“They raised the tax escrow by three hundred and fifty dollars.”

“The escrow was already adjusted in August,” I said.

“Well, it’s gone up again,” she said, her voice climbing a little.

“And the grocer wouldn’t honor the coupon on the meat order this week.