Chapter 14: Gil Chooses

Inez arrived at my house Thursday at six with a casserole, a pen and a notary.

The casserole was tuna noodle, still bubbling.

The pen was a fat silver one that she held out in front of her.

The notary was the lady with the cameo brooch, who followed her up the walk carrying a rubber stamp in a velvet bag.

Birdie came last, holding her grandmother's purse.

"The caseworker has been so busy," Inez said, kissing the air near my cheek. "It's best to settle the paperwork tonight. As a family."

"We were told Friday," Gil said.

"Friday is tomorrow, and tomorrow is a day too late."

She said it with a smile.

The notebook had said Third report by the 30th, and I knew a deadline when one walked into my kitchen.

Gil stood by the refrigerator in his shop apron.

Normally he would have said something about the tuna.

He had a joke ready, I could see it in his shoulders, and he looked at it and put it away.

I realized I had not heard him joke since the afternoon in the wood room.

I missed it, which was a strange thing to miss.

"Sit, sit," Inez said, and placed the casserole in the middle of my table, where my laptop usually sat.

We sat.

The lady with the brooch unrolled her stamp.

Birdie climbed onto a chair and swung her feet, watching the pen.

Inez took one folded page from her purse and smoothed it flat.

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