Chapter 21: All Four

"I called the agent last night while you were in the shower," Warren said.

We were standing on the front lawn in the early light, looking at the two holes in the grass.

"I cancelled the closing. The buyers get their deposit back, and I pay the fee. I'd have paid ten times that."

"You sold the house because you couldn't stand being in it with me."

"I sold it because I thought if I wasn't here, you'd go and live."

"I'm living."

"I noticed."

I leaned into his arm and he put it around me, right there in front of the road, where anyone could see.

"Friday," I said.

"What about it?"

"Tell them to come tonight instead. All three. I want everyone in one room."

He looked down at me, and a slow dark grin spread over his weathered face.

"Which room?"

"Yours."

They came at nine.

Graham arrived first, his jacket over one shoulder, Owen right behind him, Caleb last with a bottle of the rye under his arm.

"My mother's," I said.

"It's Warren's now," Caleb said. "He says it's yours."

I carried it upstairs and set it on the dresser.

They followed me in a line, and the bedroom filled up with men.

It was a big room, and it felt small.

Graham took the armchair by the window, loosening his tie.

Owen sat on the edge of the bed with his glasses in his hand.

Caleb leaned on the wall, arms folded, patient as a post.

Warren shut the door.

I stood in the middle of the floor and looked at them, and I felt the strangest thing, a calm so deep I could have walked on it.

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