“You got to put an end to it. He can’t change the number, it being a business and all. I mean, that, that makes sense to you, right? He’s this close”—Telly squished his thumb and finger together—“to calling the phone company. Reporting you.”

“I made cobbler, Telly. Apple and oats. The one you love.”

Gloria picked up her fork again. I spread my hands out over my legs.

“That’s real nice, Glow, but you got to know, you can’t be coming ’round all the time neither. You got the kids here, and you got your own work. At Stafford’s? Surely you been missing some shifts, right Glow? Glow, you listening?”

She shook her head. “Oh, Telly. You always make me laugh.” Then she looked up. “Darn if I forgot the ice cream.”

“I’m not dicking around here. Do you want me to just lay it out? You can’t be dropping by. At the garage, when I’m working. And you can’t leave shitty notes under my windshield. What’re you thinking? They come off like you’re threatening me. They do, Glow. Even if you’re just joking.” He took a big sip of water. The lump in his throat hopped up and down. “And the boy can’t neither. Just showing up with no warning. Moping around acting all like—”

Her eyelids fluttered. “Rowan went there? To the garage?”

“Yeah. Yeah, he did.”

“When?”

“I don’t know. A while back. Beginning of summer? I wasn’t going to mention nothing, but I want it all out on the table. He stopped me right in the middle of my work. Dealing with a customer. Did a good job messing up my tool trays.” Telly shook his head left and right. “Boss got his eye on me something fierce ever since then. I don’t want to lose my job, Glow.”

“Asshole.” Rowan whispered that, but everyone heard it. Even Chicken. His ears stood up then went right down. He squeezed under the table.

I reached my foot just to touch Rowan’s a tiny bit. He nipped me with his toes.

“This don’t make no sense,” Gloria said.

Telly pushed his plate away. “Sure, I’m speaking plain as day. It’s nothing complicated.”

“But what about what you said on the phone? Staying for a while. I thought—”

“C’mon, Glow. I meant a supper. An hour, two. See the kids. Toss the Frisbee around. Straighten everything out and get a plan together. It got to happen.”

Her eyes went real small again. “Are you kidding me?”

Air got sucked in through his shiny teeth. It was a terrible noise. “I don’t got time for this shit, Glow. I’m a busy man.”

“Telly, I—”