Chapter 5: Dinner

Before we went in, I made Conall stand in his mother's driveway and answer one question.

"What have you told her about the surgery?"

"That it went fine and you're sore." He rubbed his face. "Nothing else."

"Not how many pieces came out?"

"Four came out. Two are left." He caught himself. "I didn't say it to her. I never said a number to anyone except you."

"Then no one at that table knows a number."

He nodded slowly. "Why does that matter?"

"I'll tell you after."

The house was warm and smelled of roast chicken and rosemary.

Adelaide met us at the door in her cream cardigan and pearls, and took my coat.

"Look at you, up and about," she said. "I'm so glad you came. I'd have brought dinner to the lodge."

"I wanted to get out," I said.

She laughed and squeezed my arm, right above the elbow, and her hand was exactly as warm as it had always been.

The dining table was set for four.

Bronwyn was already there, hanging her blazer on the back of a chair. She came around the table before I could sit.

"Rowena, I need to say something," she said. "I never asked for that vote. I didn't know she was going to do it."

"I know," I said, and I found that I believed it.

"I'd have said no if she'd asked me first."

"You voted no."

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