I looked down at the red sticky tab fluttering a little in the cold evening wind.

“I’ll read it over tonight and give you an answer Monday,” I said.

Garrett lowered the pen, his smile slipping just enough to show the tight muscles along his jaw.

“The board needs to be certain before the vote, Dad,” Garrett said.

“They’ll have what they need on December fifteenth,” I said.

I turned away from the iron balcony railing and walked back in through the warm living room.

Valerie was waiting in the front foyer with my heavy wool coat over her left arm.