The morning was spent monotonously.

Raine kept looking over towards me, but I ignored him, flat out.

I’m not interested in hearing his reasons, even though that thought is selfish.

Human beings are selfish creatures, and that hardly excuses me, but I need space.

And I’m not sure the way to achieve that space is going shopping with him first thing in the morning.

Mrs. McCarthy has already left for the Gardening Club; she cheerily informed us that she wouldn’t be back until well after four in the afternoon.

Just lovely.

“Hey, are we going?”

I looked up from my writing and nodded, devoid of any emotion, really.

“We have to lug all this back,” I said, waving the list in his face.

Scooter rubbed up against my foot.

“Are you gonna be okay alone, Scoots?” I asked, scratching behind his ears.

I picked the cat up and placed him in his travel cage – he’s wrecked my house in Arizona before, and I’m not taking any chances with Mrs. McCarthy’s antiques.

Especially Mrs. McCarthy’s antiques.