The kids are tired now, drooping over the cake that Mr. Keller cuts into small slivers, their voices descending into the low hum of one long whine, a mosquito’s song.

It’s Annie who hears it, the shrill siren of the phone. Perhaps, subconsciously, her ear is pricked for it, waiting. She’s standing near the edge of the table, away from it all, about a foot away. Close enough that no one would register that she’s removed herself. But in pictures of this moment, grainy from the graying sky, you can see Annie is the odd one out, that there is a stretch of grass between her and the partygoers. Almost as if she knew this call would happen. Almost.

Annie runs to the house, to the kitchen, where the closest phone hangs on the wall near the fridge. She picks it up on the fourth ring. Who could be calling now? she wonders. Everyone knows it’s Suzy’s birthday. Every friend or relative the Kellers have would have been briefed about the festivities.

“Keller residence.”

A clearing of the throat, deep and husky. Male. “May I speak to Mrs. Keller? Tell her it’s Dr. Flores.”

Under any other circumstance, Annie would say that this wasn’t a good time, that she would take a message. But there’s a hitch in his voice, a tremor that Annie can only detect because she can’t see his face, which would be placid, smooth, she imagines, no wrinkle of emotion.

“One moment.” Annie puts the phone down on the counter and waits, stares out at the gathering on the lawn. One child is crying, throwing himself onto the ground in a full-blown tantrum, tearing out clumps of grass and flinging them at his nanny, a woman Annie recognizes from pickup. She looks ready to spank him, put him over her knee and wallop him. She’s told him as much.

And Suzy is asleep, cradled in her mother’s arms, her thumb stuck loosely in her mouth, too fatigued even to wish her guests goodbye. Mrs. Keller is stroking Suzy, running her nails through the fine blond hair, inching her closer to her chest, staying seated as guests begin to disperse with their tired toddlers. She takes Suzy’s hand and notices the bracelet, her eyes narrowing in confusion, and then Annie is there, standing overhead.

“Phone for you. It’s a Dr. Flores.” Mrs. Keller eyes widen and blink slowly, as if she is waking from a trance. She hands Suzy over without a word and stands up, her joints cracking. And Annie is left with Suzy drooling on her shoulder, her hair tickling Annie’s ear.