“How long do you need?”
“A couple of weeks, hopefully.”
He handed me a blanket.
“You can use the couch.”
I sat down and told him what had happened.
About Helena.
Daniel.
The photograph.
Paris.
David listened.
Then he asked one simple question.
“Did you tell Helena you were coming?”
“No.”
“So you appeared at her house without warning and asked to move in?”
I stared at the floor.
Hearing it out loud made me realize how selfish it had been.
For years, Helena had taken care of everything.
And even after leaving her, I’d somehow expected her to take care of me again.
The next morning, I started looking for work.
Three days later, Helena called.
I answered immediately.
“Hello?”
“Ross, Holly has a school concert Thursday evening. She asked whether you’d come.”
Something tightened in my chest.
“Of course.”
There was a pause.
“Please make sure you can.”
