Later, as Sadie drove them home, he said, because there was no right question, “You saw your father die.”

“My mother told you that.”

“It’s not true?”

“No, it’s—I mean, it is true.”

“Oh, honey,” he said, because it was a moment for endearments though they never used endearments. Her new haircut matched her Weimar Republic eyebrows, the thin lines she’d plucked them into years ago, expecting that they’d grow back. Her lipstick was red. It suited her. It was only from the neck down that she looked clownish.

“Oh, honey,” she repeated. “That’s why I didn’t tell you. He had an aneurysm.”

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Not a freak accident.”

“I never said a freak accident.”

He was sure she had—

“A freak thing,” she said. “A freak thing.”

* * *

Her father was crinkle-faced with bad teeth; he wore short-sleeved polyester shirts with black neckties; she loved him. He liked to show her card tricks. He was showing her one when he died.

“Look,” he’d said. “There were once four thieves, and they decided to rob a department store.” Jack of Clubs, Jack of Diamonds, Jack of Spades, Jack of Hearts. “And they landed their helicopter on the roof of the building.” He put the jacks on the top of the deck of cards.

She was sitting in her bed, a little white Eastlake bed frame he’d found at a yard sale, such a long narrow shape they’d had to have a mattress made for it.

“The first thief went to the basement, fine china,” he said, pulling a card from the top and inserting it in near the bottom. “The second, to the ground floor, perfume.” Another card. “Third, lingerie. Fourth, jewelry. Then they heard the police outside, and they ran up—”

At this he riffled the cards but lost control of them. They flew into the air, then he himself folded up: he fell to his knees, as though surrendering to the imaginary playing card police force, he sat, he had a dopey expression on his face, he leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes, and his hands made funny giving-up gestures. She had laughed. Her father was very funny. Look at his hands, I give up, I give up.