Caleb’s face stayed still.
I took the lilies into the kitchen instead.
At 2:45, I was upstairs washing rain from my hands when Caleb stopped outside the guest bathroom.
“You all right in there?”
“Fine.”
I dried my hands slowly.
The small mirror above the sink showed a fresh scratch along the side of Caleb’s neck when he leaned into the doorway.
“Where did you get that?”
He touched the spot.
“Fence.”
“What fence?”
“The one behind the tasting room.”
I folded the towel and put it on the rack.
“You were at the tasting room today?”
“Yesterday.”
He smiled without showing much of it.
“You have been gone. You have no idea what day anyone was where.”
“I know what day I came home.”
He stepped back into the hall.
“Then go downstairs and let Mom handle the arrangements.”
I looked at the scratch again before he turned away.
“Caleb.”
He stopped.
“Why were you at the hospital?”
His shoulders tightened for less than a second.
“Who told you I was?”
He walked away before I answered.
Downstairs, the untouched plates had been moved into the dining room. Lorraine was carrying one toward the kitchen when I came in.
“Where is the hospital paperwork?”
She put the plate beside the sink.
“You should eat.”
“I asked for the paperwork.”
“You can have it later.”
“When?”
She opened the refrigerator and put the plate inside.
“There is a great deal to settle before the family gathers.”
“I came home to my wife, and you are already asking me to sign something.”
She closed the refrigerator.
“It is not an unreasonable request.”
“What am I signing?”
“The vineyard sale documents.”
I stared at her.
She picked up another plate.
“The bank closing is November 27. We cannot keep delaying it because you are grieving.”
“I asked about Hannah.”
“And I am asking about the business.”
