“I’m good,” I said. “Your aunt served tea.”

She sighed and said quietly, “I could use something stronger. Why don’t we move this conversation to the kitchen.”

Grant Finch put a friendly hand atop my shoulder as we—all of us except Jeremy—left the sunroom. “We’ve all been through a lot, but at least we’re coming out the other side of the nightmare,” he said.

Seconds later we were standing around the kitchen island while Gloria opened the oversized stainless-steel refrigerator and took out a bottle of wine.

“Anyone?” she asked.

There were no takers.

I said, “Maybe you could tell me about the harassment you’ve been getting.”

“It hasn’t just been Jeremy,” Gloria said over the pop of the cork. The bottle was already half empty. “I’ve been getting my fair share too. People are saying unbelievable things about me on the Internet. That I’m the worst mother in the world.” Another sigh. “Maybe it’s true.”

“It certainly isn’t,” said Bob. “Gloria loves Jeremy more than anything in the world. She’s a wonderful mother. I’ve seen that first hand.”

Ms. Plimpton was stone-faced. She turned away and went to the dining room to bring in the teapot and cups.

I looked at Bob. “You and Ms. Pilford . . .” I let the sentence dangle.

Gloria moved in close to Bob and slipped her arm into his, then displayed her hand so I wouldn’t miss the rock on her finger. “Bob and I are engaged. The one bright spot in my life these days.” She grimaced. “No, I take that back. Jeremy not going to jail, that was a wonderful thing.”

Bob smiled uncomfortably. “Gloria just needs to sort some things out before we can get married. But we’ve been together a few years now.”

Gloria nodded. “Once I’m finally free of Jack, we can move forward. That’s my ex.” She rolled her eyes. “Just waiting for the divorce to go through. Bob’s been so patient. He’s been so good to me.”

And then she dug her teeth into her lower lip.

“Well,” I said. “That’s great.”

“And my other hero is this man right here,” she said, indicating Grant Finch. “If it weren’t for him, my boy’d be in jail right now.” She gave Bob’s arm a squeeze. “I can thank you for Grant.”

Bob said, “Well, me and Galen.”

At the mention of that name, Gloria slipped her arm out of Bob’s and went back to find a glass for her wine.

Bob continued, “It was Galen who put me on to Grant. When Jeremy had his troubles, Galen immediately thought of Grant and it was a terrific recommendation.”

“Galen?” I said.

Bob nodded at my puzzlement. “Sorry. Galen Broadhurst. My business associate. I’m in real estate, land development, that kind of thing.”

“Is he here?” I asked.

“He actually said he might be coming up later today.”

“We just couldn’t have done it without you, Grant,” Gloria said to Finch, pouring wine into a long-stemmed glass. Her eyes narrowed. “Even if you did make me look like a fool in the process.”