She brought him things. Cookies. Brownies. A bottle of expensive wine “to thank him for all his help.” A book about the history of chemistry that she said she’d “found” at a bookstore and “thought of him.”
She texted him. She’d gotten his number when he fixed her garbage disposal. Hey neighbor, thanks again! with a smiley face. Then more. Saw this and thought of you, with a link to a chemistry joke. Are you mowing today? I’ll bring you a lemonade.
She showed up at our door twice more on my working Saturdays. Once in a bathing suit, asking if Irvin could look at her pool filter. She didn’t have a pool.
And every time she saw me, in the driveway or at the mailbox or across the fence, she smiled that cat smile.
Like she was winning.
Maddie noticed before I said anything.
She came into the kitchen one evening while I was making dinner. She leaned against the counter and crossed her arms.
