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“Sorry,” he said. “I thought I was about to die about ten minutes
ago.”
“You didn’t say anything.”
“That’s because I’m tough,” he said, pretending to puff out his
chest. He retrieved two glasses from the cupboard and added ice
cubes before pouring water from a pitcher he kept in the
refrigerator.
“You’re a trouper,” he added, handing her a glass. “It’s like a
sauna out there.”
“I can’t believe how many people are still at the carnival,” she
said, taking a drink.
“I’ve always wondered why they don’t move up the date to either
May or October, but then again, the crowds seem to come no
matter what.”
She glanced at the clock on the wall. “What time do you have to
leave?”
“In an hour or so. But I should be back before eleven.”
Five hours, she thought. “Do you want me to make the kids
anything special for dinner?”
“They like pasta. Kristen likes hers with butter, Josh likes his with
marinara, and I’ve got a bottle of that in the refrigerator. They’ve
been snacking all day, though, so they might not eat much.”
“What time do they go to bed?”
“Whenever. It’s always before ten, but sometimes it’s as early as
eight. You’ll have to use your best judgment.”
She held the cool glass of water against her cheek and glanced
around the kitchen. She hadn’t spent much time in their home,
and now that she was here she noticed remnants of a woman’s