Chapter 5

Whit rinsed the birthday knife while the four hours he had counted beside Ines remained known only to him.

Mrs. Dolan still held Ines by the wrist. Whit turned off the tap and listened as she described sixty people, two sheet cakes, and a Thursday service with coffee afterward.

"I can do that," Ines said.

"You don't have to answer tonight," Whit called from the kitchen.

"I already did."

Mrs. Dolan squeezed her hand, then left with the last two guests. Perry carried the empty stand out without speaking. Junie followed her to the porch, still eating the thin slice…