The Mistress in the Room novel · Chapter 5 of 24
Chapter 5: The Brother Douglas Cut Off
"You look like Douglas," I said.
"I get that a lot," said Evan. "I'm the one who isn't going to apologize for it."
He held out the toolbox.
It was old pine with brass corners, and it had sat under his father's workbench for forty years.
"I'm not here for his sake," he said. "I heard what happened at the dinner. Hannah's friend called me last night."
"You and Hannah talk?"
"She sends me a card every Christmas. I send one back. It's most of what we do."
"I didn't know that."
"Your husband asked me not to tell you."
"My husband asks a lot of people to keep things from me," I said.
His mouth moved a little at one corner.
"Open it."
I lifted the lid.
Inside, wrapped in a flannel shirt, was my mother's carriage clock.
It was brass and glass, no bigger than a loaf of bread, with a chip in the corner I had put there myself when I was nine.
I had not seen it in three years.
"Douglas told me it was at the repair shop," I said.
"It was in a pawn shop window in Rogers Park," said Evan. "I saw it in March and paid sixty dollars more than it was worth. I didn't know how to give it to you."
"You could have mailed it."
"I thought about it." He scratched the back of his neck. "The post office felt wrong."
I laughed.
It came out cracked, and I covered my mouth with my hand, and he waited without looking away.
"Sorry," I said.
"Don't be."
"No, I mean it. I've been strong since eight last night. I don't think I'd planned on laughing."
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