“Why don’t we go tomorrow?” Josh asked Ryan.

“I’m there,” Ryan said, nudging me.

“On a Tuesday? How much fun can a Tuesday night be?” I groaned.

“As fun as we make it,” Ryan said.

On our way back to Andrews, I grumbled to Beth about going out on a school night. She didn’t seem fazed by the prospect, so I left it alone. When we lumbered into our room, my cell phone buzzed.

“Hi, Mom,” I yawned.

“You sound tired, Nina. Are you getting enough sleep?” she asked.

“I am. It’s just been a long day,” I said, peeling back my comforter.

“Well, I won’t keep you long. I just wanted to tell you that Thomas called me today. He wanted to apologize about not returning your call. Did you call him, dear?”

“Er…yes. I did.” I hadn’t anticipated Thomas calling my mother.

“Well? What did you call him about?”

I decided that sticking as close to the truth as possible would be the best option. “Well, I was in dad’s office a few weeks ago and came across some unsigned papers. I didn’t want to worry you with it, so I called Mr. Rosen.”

“You were in Dad’s office? Why?”

“I guess I just miss him.”

“Oh,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

“It’s okay, Mom. It was something I needed to do on my own.”

“You don’t worry about those papers, Dear. They’re nothing you need to concern yourself with. Thomas has copies of all of your father’s papers in his office; they’ve already been taken care of. I wasn’t….ready to move them just yet.”

“I understand,” I said, thinking of the letter opener I’d taken. She obviously hadn’t noticed, yet. I wondered if she went into Jack’s office at all. “Did Daddy ever discuss an urgent properties deal with you?”

My mother pondered that for a moment. “A properties deal? Your father didn’t deal with properties, Nina.”

“Oh. Okay.” I tried to make my voice sound idle to end the conversation.

“I’ll let Thomas know that I’ve talked to you.” She seemed to accept my explanation, but was obviously unconvinced.

“That’s fine, Mom. I’m going to bed, now.”

I clicked my phone shut and noticed Beth staring at me. “What?”

“You didn’t tell her about the Dawson guy, did you?” Beth said, towel and toiletries in hand.

“I can’t put that on her right now.”